CCCC issues urgent CaCCCor CoCunteer ChaC pionsC
Every child needs a
MEDPA >> champion.
That’s the powerful tag line which Court Appointed Youth Advocates (CASA) uses to inspire people to seriously think about becoming a champion in a child’s life as a CASA volunteer with the ability to throw a lifeline to a child in need. CASA — and hundreds of local children — desperately need volunteers.
CASA volunteers advocate for local children who have experienced abuse or neglect in order to provide them with a safe and healthy environment in permanent homes. They become a voice for a child who often has no one to be that voice. According to the organization, a CASA advocate can sometimes be the only stable, loving force in a child’s life.
The nonpro—t CASA of Delaware and Chester Counties has one major mission— to help abused and neglected children, from birth to age 21, live well, achieve academic success and experience the joys of childhood by providing them with trained volunteer advocates who speak for their best interest. CASA is always on the lookout for volunteers who want an opportunity to be challenged, inspired and rewarded by the impact they’ve made in another’s life.
Once volunteers are accepted by CASA, they undergo training by skilled sta— so that they feel con—dent and ready to begin their important volunteer role. The CASA sta— is always on hand to support the advocates whom judges appoint to serve as the stable adult in the child’s life and to make recommendations for the child’s future. Although they keep professional boundaries at all times and consciously work to stay objective, CASA volunteers make recommendations from the unique vantage point of someone who gets to know the child behind the case —les, and builds a relationship with him or her.
The Court Appointed Special Advocates advise the court on behalf of the children, with support and guidance from CASA’s professional sta— of social workers and attorneys. Volunteers get to know the children through monthly visits and talking with everyone involved in their lives. They use all of the information that they’ve gathered to inform judges, lawyers and other professionals about what is in the best interest of the children.
To become a volunteer, a person must be 21 years old and the desire to commit to helping a child, but does not need to have a speci—c background, education or occupation. In turn, CASA will give a volunteer a high level of support, from training and developing an action plan, to supplying go-to sta— members for advice, strategy and support, as the volunteer advocates for their child. CASA builds a network of support, that includes its 16 sta— members, to insure each volunteer’s success.
Although CASA is currently serving 166 children in the local area, it expects that number to rise to 250 by the end of this year. By —uly of this year, it had 73 volunteers. It needs many more to meet the needs of area children.
“We can only accept as many kids into our program, as we have volunteers,” CASA Executive Director Leigh Ann Mc—elvey explained.
Last year in 2018, 231 children had CASA volunteer advocates. Children are removed from homes and placed in foster care for a variety of reasons, including parent incarceration, housing, physical abuse, sexual abuse, parents’ substance abuse, neglect and abandonment. According to CASA, research shows that a child who has a stable volunteer advocating for him or her will spend less time in foster care and get more of the help and services that they need. They do better in school and are less likely to bounce from home to home in the foster system. They also move through the adoption process quicker than children without an advocate.
Although the need for more volunteers is strong, Mc— elvey said the organization has come a long way.
“Our numbers of those we serve have doubled in the past decade,” Mc— elvey said. “We are now serving 53 percent more children than we did ten years ago. However, —3 cases are now open for which we need immediate volunteers.”
Mc—elvey and her sta— seem proud of the organization’s accomplishments, but they have a goal of serving an additional 950 children who need an advocate by their side.
Mc—elvey said although they crucially need volunteers, from all backgrounds and ethnicities, there is a very strong need for African American advocates since 51 percent of the children in the child welfare system are African American. CASA tries to make its volunteer base re—ect the diverse population of children that it serves.
“All of our volunteer opportunities provide a way, both big or small, to make a signi—cant impact in local children’s lives,” added CASA Program Director Mary —ate Howard. “We hope people will come learn more about joining our CASA team of volunteers. We will insure they are successful and get the best possible outcome.”
Training to be a CASA volunteer includes three evening sessions, one Saturday session and some court observation. Once assigned to a case, volunteers spend about 10-15 hours a month advocating for their child. The volunteer can —ex most of those hours. Volunteers will —nd out if volunteering at CASA is a good —t for them in the initial interview following an information session. CASA asks volunteers for at least a 12-month commitment.
“We want to be a stable force in a child’s life that has previously been a revolving door,” Mc— elvey explained.
CASA, serving Delaware and Chester counties, has a good batting record. On average, local CASA volunteers remain active with their children for —6 months and 7— percent of cases that closed
CASA >> P AGE PP