CASA of McKean county set to begin next training session
SMETHPORT– Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of McKean County has scheduled the next Volunteer Training session to begin on Thursday, March 25, 2021 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Sessions will occur via Zoom and will be held for 9 consecutive weeks, ending on Thursday, May 20.
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) volunteers are specially trained citizen-volunteers who are appointed by the Juvenile Dependency Court to advocate for abused and neglected children. Authorized by the Juvenile Act, the CASA serves as the eyes and ears of the Court by providing fact-based information the Judge needs in order to make informed decisions that are in the child’s best interest. Prospective volunteers must be at least 21 years of age plus undergo background checks and fingerprinting. Candidates complete a volunteer application, participate in an interview and complete 30 hours of training.
“If you have ever thought about being a volunteer for vulnerable children, CASA of McKean County is the volunteer experience for you,” according to Suzy Meyer-Page, Executive Director of CASA of McKean County.
Once volunteers are successfully trained, they will be appointed to a case involved in the dependency system and will remain with that child until his or her case is permanently resolved. CASA volunteers are asked to be available for a minimum of 18 months.
Studies show that children who have a CASA volunteer reap significant benefits: They spend less time in foster care, have fewer out-of-home placements and perform better in school. They’re also more likely to find a safe and permanent home and receive the necessary services they need to succeed. More than 50 percent of children with CASA volunteers never re-enter the child welfare system.
“Being a CASA volunteer assures that abused and neglected children have a voice in the court system with the goal of a safe and permanent home for each child,” MeyerPage noted.
Consider adding CASA volunteering to your routine. The vulnerable children waiting to get a CASA assigned to their case will thank you. It is not too late to sign up for the training session starting March 25th. If you are interested in becoming a CASA volunteer, please contact CASA of McKean County at 568-2170 or by email at casa@ mckeancountypa. org. An on-line application can also be filled out via this link: https:// pa- mckean. evintosolutions.com/VolunteerApplication/. You can also check out the program on their website: http:// www. casamckean.org.