SOMERS POINT — Sixteen Atlantic and Cape May County residents were recently sworn in at Harbor Pines Golf Club on May 25 as Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers. The swearing in ceremony was the culmination of 30 hours of classroom instruction in child advocacy, the court system and cultural competency. As CASA volunteers, they will advocate on behalf of children living in the foster care system and make sure that the youth receive necessary resources and services while living in foster care. The ultimate goal is to ensure that the children are placed in safe, permanent homes as quickly as possible, either reunited with their family, adopted or place with family members.
The new CASA volunteers are Elizabeth Figueroa of Margate City, Ellen “Scottie” Van Duyne of Ventnor City, Gwenda Burkhardt of Margate, Bonnie Steiner of Margate, Sherrie Holmes of Mays Landing, Audrey Chontos of Egg Harbor Township, LaRissa Perks of Somers Point, Shannon Casula of Somers Point, Ralph Shinkle, Jr. of Egg Harbor Township, Douglas Stroz of Egg Harbor Township, Barbara Overbeck of Stone Harbor, Linda Six of Wildwood, Beatriz Lara of Egg Harbor Township, Johna Battaglia of Cape May Court House, Timothy Chelius of Northfield and Evelyn Corso of Northfield.
CASA volunteers are authorized to meet with everyone on the child’s case, including teachers, case workers, counselors and health care providers. This unique access provides the basis for thoughtful, objective recommendations to the Family Court Judge regarding the child’s overall well being. Through written court reports at each hearing, CASA volunteers act as the eyes and ears of the Judge.
“We are so grateful for their commitment to help children in need,” 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 recruit and train volunteers. Our goal is to have a CASA volunteer for all 1,000 children who need one and we are half way to that goal. We welcome these new CASA volunteers, who join over 200 other volunteers, and know that they are about to start a journey that will help change the lives of the children they meet and in the process their lives will be changed as well.”
Currently, CASA has the capacity to serve nearly 50 percent of the children in care in Atlantic and Cape May Counties. Individuals interested in becoming a CASA volunteer should attend the Information Sessions held monthly at the CASA office in Somers Point, N.J. For more information call (609) 601-7800 or visit www.AtlanticCapeCASA.org.
About CASA of Atlantic and Cape May Counties:
Trained CASA Volunteers speak in family court on behalf of abused and neglected children 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 are placed in foster care annually. Last fiscal year, CASA served 475 abused and neglected children with nearly 200 CASA Volunteers and helped place 130 children in permanent homes. For more information about CASA visit www.AtlanticCapeCASA.org. CASA is a United Way Partner Agency.
About National CASA:
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Children is a network of 946 community-based programs that recruit, train and support citizen volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in courtrooms and communities. The only program of its kind, 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 impact 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. (www.casaforchildren.org)
