To work with abused and/or neglected children who are involved in the child welfare court system, volunteers are needed by the Cumberland County Court Appointed Special Advocates Program (CASA).
On Thursday, January 16 from noon to 1 p.m. and 6 to 7 p.m., CASA will be holding two online information sessions. You can either fill up the online form at the bottom of this page or send an email [email protected] with your name and the time you are available to attend a virtual session.
According to a news release from Cumberland County CASA Program Director Anita Brewster, CASA volunteers are trained members of the community who act as the court’s eyes and ears after being chosen by a judge to represent the child’s best interests, many of whom are in foster care. CASA volunteers make ensuring that the child’s needs are met and that their voice is heard in court.
111 dependent children were represented by 68 Cumberland County CASA volunteers last year. However, with so many eligible children in Cumberland County waiting for a CASA volunteer, there is an increasing need for additional volunteers.
According to Brewster, CASA is looking for those who wish to improve the lives of the most at-risk kids in our community.
In addition to completing an interview procedure, passing background checks, and completing 50 hours of training, volunteers must be at least 21 years old.
New volunteers receive extensive training that teaches them about the child welfare system, the CASA volunteer role, and successful advocacy strategies. The majority of cases last between 18 and 24 months, and most volunteers devote 10 to 20 hours a month to their advocacy work.
The duties and obligations of CASA volunteers include:
By taking these four crucial steps, the court can make sure it has all the information it needs to decide what is in the child’s best interests.
With more than 950 programs nationwide, CASA is a nationwide initiative. It is the only program of its kind and is based on matching one sibling group or kid who has been abused and/or neglected with a caring adult advocate.
Visit cumberlandcountypa.gov/casa, send an email [email protected], or give them a call at 717.240.6159 to find out more about volunteering for CASA.
Early March is when new CASA volunteer training is expected to start. This autumn, there will be more training sessions.
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