Judge swears in CASA volunteers
First group to go through new Porterville office
Nine new volunteers were sworn in as Court Appointed Special Advocates of Tulare County at the South County Justice Center in Porterville on Thursday. The volunteers are the first group of CASA volunteers to receive training at CASA’S new satellite office based in Porterville and to be sworn in at the South County Justice Center.
After completing 38 hours of a rigorous training program over a period of five weeks, the diverse group, which includes participants from Porterville and Springville, will help serve more than 20 children in the county who are abused and/or neglected.
Ben Martinez, a resident of Porterville, is one of the new CASA volunteers and said the program’s mission spoke to him.
“I want to be part of the team that is working for those children who need care and love,” he said. “I told myself if there’s an opportunity to make a difference in a child’s life, I’m going to take it. I want to be part of the team that is there to help.”
CASA of Tulare County Executive Director, Paul Moore, began the ceremony by welcoming and congratulating all the volunteers on completing the training.
After introducing herself, Honorable Juliet Boccone, presiding judge of the juvenile court for the Superior Court County of Tulare, explained the importance of the input a CASA volunteer can provide. She went on to explain that like many judges, she appreciates having a CASA on a case because they offer an unbiased opinion on what is truly in the best interest for a child or youth in foster care. Judge Boccone thanked all the volunteers for their service and for the positive difference they will make in the life of a child or youth in foster care.
Each volunteer was then invited to the front of the court room to take the oath and shake hands with Judge Boccone and Moore. The event was a celebration of the dedication of each volunteer in completing their training, and many friends and family members filled the courtroom at the South County Justice Center to observe the volunteers taking their oath.
CASA of Tulare County opened the second location to increase its capacity to serve foster youth in rural and tribal areas of Tulare County. Funds to open the office were raised directly from the residents and businesses located within the community of Porterville.
Major supporters of the satellite office include the Tule River Tribe, First 5 Tulare County, United Way of Tulare County, the Office of the Tulare County District Attorney, Wells Fargo, 3-G Scale Services, Porterville Chamber of Commerce, Ruiz Foods, World Wide Sires Ltd. and others.
Anthony Maldonado, outreach coordinator for CASA of Tulare County, said that Porterville and other Tulare County areas outside Visalia have high needs for child advocacy in the county.
“There’s a child waiting out there for someone to advocate for them; we don’t know who it will be, it can be a baby that was just born last week, or a young adult trying to figure out how to be on their own,” said Maldonado.
Last month, 61 abused and neglected children in Tulare County entered the foster care system. More than 250 children are currently waiting for a volunteer. CASA is currently recruiting for more volunteers from the area to meet the needs of local children.
“We have an excellent training program, and we’re dedicated to working with the volunteers to help them serve the children, we’re going to be by their side,” said Maldonado.
Those interested in more information about becoming a CASA volunteer are encouraged to call CASA of Tulare County at 625-4007 or visit www.casatulareco. org.
CASA of Tulare County is part of a statewide network of community-based, non-profit programs that recruit, screen, train and supervise volunteers to “Speak Up for a Child” removed from home due to abuse or neglect. CASA is the only program in California that uses trained volunteers to work one-on-one with children, ensuring that each one gets the services needed and achieves permanency in a safe, nurturing home.