You can make a difference in the life of a child

“As a judge, I had to make tough decisions. I had to decide whether to take a child from the only home he’s ever known or leave him somewhere he might possibly be abused. I needed someone who could tell me what was best for that child—from the child’s viewpoint. That’s what CASA does.”
—Honorable David Soukup, CASA founder
CASA volunteers (Court Appointed Special Advocates) are for children who are in the foster care system.
Specially trained, these volunteers are assigned to cases of children who have been victims of abuse or neglect and ensure that their needs are met in foster care or other alternative placements.
Seattle Judge David Soukup conceived the idea of using trained volunteers to speak for the best interest of these children in court. So successful was this Seattle program that soon judges across the country began utilizing advocates.
CASA of Atlantic and Cape May Counties serviced 255 of the nearly 750 children in the foster care system last year. Their goal is to train enough volunteers so that every child in the system has an advocate.
CASA Case Managers attend court hearings and recommend to the judge those children who would most benefit from a CASA volunteer. One volunteer advocates for one child’s case until she is placed into a safe, permanent, and loving home.
CASA volunteers learn all they can about a child’s case. They meet with the child to establish a rapport. They develop a plan of action for ensuring that the best interests of the child are met and they help prepare a recommendation for the judge hearing the child’s case.
CASA advocates meet with foster parents, biological parents, caregivers, lawyers, teachers, service providers, medical providers, counselors, and DYFS workers. They commit to meeting with the child for three hours, face to face, each month, usually for a two-year time frame.
The CASA volunteer becomes the one constant contact in the child’s life. DYFS workers may come and go; a child may be transferred to another foster care home or have to change schools. The CASA advocate follows the child through it all.
The advocates must carefully explain their role to the children and others working with them. They are not big brothers or big sisters. They are not babysitters or caregivers. They can never transport the child in a vehicle. And they are never left alone with the child.
Anyone can become an advocate. Volunteers come from every walk of life, including former CIA agents, retired waitresses, bus drivers, and teachers.
The initial training consists of 30 hours with 12 hours of updates each year, fingerprint and Federal background checks.
During the 30 hours of instruction, candidates meet the professionals involved in cases, role play a case from start to finish, and do lots of hands-on learning. CASA has a high success and retention rate of advocates.
“The advocate is an extension of the eyes and ears of the judge,” says CASA Community Outreach and Training Coordinator Jessica Laspino. “Every three months a report goes to the judge and contains recommendations based on the advocate’s interactions with the child.”
Kiersten Park of Galloway Township has been a CASA advocate for about two years. A flight attendant for United Airways, Park has a flexible schedule and can make time to visit with her children. Park is working with a family of three siblings.
She says the best part of the program is visiting with the kids and feeling their excitement to share experiences with her. She is sometimes frustrated by how long the system takes for needed services to kick in.
Park doesn’t see time as a stumbling block for volunteers.
“It’s not three hours all at one time, but rather a few visits each month that add up,” she says.
Pleased that she can make a difference, Park went on to say, “I’m there to help the children find a permanent placement in a stable loving home. Sometimes this means when their parent(s) is ready to take them back. This is very rewarding. Parents are having a tough time, too.”
On Jan. 15 CASA will hold an open house at their new location, 321 Shore Road, Somers Point, from 3-8 p.m. This event is open to the public and all interested members of the community. You will learn about the history of CASA, what it does, and what it hopes to accomplish in the next few years.
There is plenty of work to do at CASA. If you think you’d like to help but would rather not commit to becoming a child advocate, there is always office work and committees to keep volunteers busy.
For more information contact CASA of Atlantic and Cape May Counties, Inc., 609-601-7800 or atlanticcapecasa.org.