FORT WAYNE, Ind. (ADAMS) – Allen County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) will hold a Swearing-In Ceremony on Thursday, June 1, 2023, 5:30 pm, adding eight new advocates to their volunteer-based program.
These newest CASA volunteers recently completed a 30-hour training program. They come from all walks of life and are committed to investing their time and talent in the futures of children.
They join a team of about 135 who serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs), dedicated community members are appointed by the court to represent children’s best interests in the court system.
Allen County Court representatives released the following:
This best-interest advocacy makes a life-changing difference for children and youth who have experienced abuse or neglect, many of whom are in foster care.
“Many people express to me their concern about these most vulnerable members of our community – children who have been abused or neglected,” said Nancy Springer, Director of the program. “These new advocates are putting that concern into action by becoming CASAs.”
Magistrate Beth A. Webber will preside over the ceremony. Magistrate Webber took the bench in the Allen Superior Court Family Relations Division in 2021. As magistrate, she hears a variety of family cases, including Children In Need of Services (CHINS), domestic relations and adoption matters. Prior to her appointment as magistrate, Webber was a solo practitioner in Fort Wayne, focusing on representing children as a Guardian Ad Litem in child abuse and neglect cases, divorce, and other matters. She also served at one time as a volunteer advocate for the Allen County CASA program. Magistrate Webber graduated summa cum laude from Ohio University and earned a law degree from the Indiana University (Bloomington) School of Law. She was admitted to the Indiana Bar in 1995.
This event is sponsored by the Allen County CASA Coalition, a not-for-profit that focuses its efforts toward recruiting, training, and supporting volunteers. Allen County CASA a program of Allen Superior Court, Family Relations Division, and is affiliated with the Indiana State Office of GAL/CASA, which is part of the Indiana Supreme Court, Division of State Court Administration. Allen County CASA is certified by the State Office and complies with the Indiana Supreme Court Program Standards and Code of Ethics for GAL/CASA programs. Allen County CASA is also a member of the National Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Association.
Anyone interested in becoming an advocate for children should contact Allen County CASA at (260) 449-7190 or visit the website
