FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – Allen County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) is looking for 60 new volunteers to work with abused and/or neglected children whose cases are involved in the child welfare court system.
There are currently more than 180 abused and neglected children in Allen County that need a CASA Volunteer.
A CASA volunteer is a trained community member appointed by a judge to serve as the “eyes and ears” of the court. They represent the best interests of children, many of whom are in foster care, by prioritizing the needs of the child so that their “voice” may be heard in court. It is the only program of its kind, built around assigning one caring adult advocate to the case of one abused and/or neglected child or sibling group.
In 2021, some 160 Allen County CASA volunteers advocated for 661 abused or neglected children,” Mell Depew, Recruitment and Training Coordinator at CASA, said. “We are reaching out to find more community members who want to help make a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable children in our area.
Volunteers must be 21 years of age or older, complete an interview process, pass background clearances, and undergo 30+ hours of training. The in-depth training for new volunteers educates advocates about the CASA volunteer role, the child welfare system, and effective advocacy techniques. Volunteers should expect to spend 3-7 hours per week in their advocacy role. Most cases last between 24 and 27 months.
CASA Volunteer roles and responsibilities:
· Gather Information: To inform the court of the child’s situation, Volunteers must regularly visit the child and gather in-depth information about the child and their family situation.
· Advocate: Volunteers provide the facts to the court through written reports and speaking on the child’s behalf for the child’s best interest.
· Facilitate: Volunteers facilitate communication between the parties for services to support the child’s needs.
· Monitor: Volunteers stay informed of the child’s situation until a safe, permanent home has been achieved.
These four key actions help ensure the court has all information needed to make well-informed decisions regarding the best interests of the child.
CASA will host two virtual informational sessions on February 15th: Noon –1 p.m. and 6 – 7 p.m. To attend, sign up at www.allencountycasa.org. Training sessions for a CASA volunteer are scheduled to start in March 2022.
To learn more about becoming a CASA volunteer, email mell.depew@allensuperiorcourt.us, or call 260-449-7190.
