11 Atlantic, Cape May County Residents Become CASA Volunteers

SOMERS POINT — Judge W. Todd Miller swore in 11 Atlantic and Cape May County residents as Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers March 13 at Greate Bay Country Club in Somers Point. The graduation ceremony was the culmination of 30 hours of instruction in child advocacy, the court system and cultural competency.
As CASA volunteers, they will advocate on behalf of children and youth living in the foster care system and recommend any necessary resources and services. The ultimate goal is to ensure that the children attain safe, permanent homes as quickly as possible.
The new CASA volunteers are Joanna McNally of Atlantic City, Philip Goldsmith of Egg Harbor Township, Tiffanie Haynes of Mays Landing, Cara Kurtz of Atlantic City, Rebecca Reed of Absecon, Gina Locotos of Absecon, Alison Winsko of Egg Harbor City, Nicole Adamusik of Atlantic City, Victoria Hillesheim of Galloway, Ella Rapoport of Atlantic City and Dylan Pomykacz of Ocean City.
“We are so grateful for these individuals commitment to advocate for children living in the foster care system,” said Director of Program Services Jennifer Valentine. “Unfortunately, the number of children living in foster care continues to grow, and so does our need to provide advocates for those children. Our goal is to have a CASA volunteer for the over 1,000 children in Atlantic and Cape May Counties who need one. Thankfully, we are more than half way to that goal, but more advocates are needed. These new CASA volunteers are starting a journey that will help change the lives of the children they meet and in the process their lives will be changed as well.”
CASA volunteers meet with everyone on the child’s case, including teachers, caseworkers, counselors and health care providers and gather information into objective court reports. Each report, submitted to the family courts at every hearing, contains recommendations for services and resources regarding the child’s education, medical and overall wellbeing.
Currently, CASA for Children has the capacity to serve just over 60 percent of the children in care in Atlantic and Cape May Counties, leaving nearly 40 percent of the children and youth in foster care without an advocate. Individuals interested in becoming a CASA volunteer should attend the Information Sessions held monthly at the CASA office at 321 Shore Road, Somers Point, N.J. For more information call (609) 601-7800 or visit www.AtlanticCapeCASA.org.
About Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Children of Atlantic and Cape May Counties:
Trained CASA volunteers speak on behalf of abused and neglected children living in the foster care system and are dedicated to ensuring these children are placed in safe permanent homes as quickly as possible. In Atlantic and Cape May Counties, over 1,000 children live in foster care annually. Last fiscal year, CASA provided 625 abused and neglected children with an advocate and helped place 211 children in permanent homes. For more information about CASA for Children visit www.AtlanticCapeCASA.org or www.Facebook.com/CASA4Children.
About National CASA:
The National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association is a network of almost 1,000 programs that recruit, train and support more than 76,000 citizen-volunteers who advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the courtrooms of their communities. The only program of its kind, Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers are empowered by the courts to provide children with one-on-one advocacy. CASA volunteers see their assigned children regularly and interview all the adults who influence their lives. Volunteer advocates offer judges the critical information they need to ensure each child’s rights and needs are being attended to while in foster care, staying with the child until she is placed in a loving permanent home. For many abused children, their CASA volunteer is the only constant adult presence in their lives. For more information about the National CASA Association, readers are encouraged to visit casaforchildren.org.