CASA announces volunteer training

TIFFIN — Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) has a training session coming next month. The organization's mission is to support children involved in abuse, neglect or dependency cases in juvenile court and advocate for those children to have a safe, permanent and supportive environment through volunteer advocates. Tri-county assistant and communications coordinator of CASA of Seneca, Sandusky and Wyandot Counties Michelle Hess told the A-T that CASA volunteers need to be 21 years or older, pass a provided background check, complete the National CASA accredited training and have a passion for helping children. "By law, a child involved in an abuse, neglect, or dependency case through the Juvenile Court needs to have a Guardian ad Litem (GAL)," Hess said. "The GAL advocates for the child specifically and represents their best interest. The court is able to appoint either an Attorney GAL or a GAL CASA volunteer. When a CASA is appointed, it saves the county thousands of taxpayer dollars. Our volunteers also have the time and drive to devote to understanding the child and their situation." Volunteers get to know children and their situation to allow them to "find and know the best outcome for the child(ren)" for them to live a happy, healthy life. When CASA does not have enough volunteers, the court must appoint an attorney guardian ad litem. "There are some weeks where volunteers won't have anything to do and there are others where they have 3-5 things to do," she explained. "So, if we look at a month at a time, CASA volunteers typically commit an average of 10 hours per month, though this can vary depending on the complexity of the case and the specific needs of the child." On average, volunteers spend time meeting with the child, researching the child's situation, attending court hearings and communicating with caseworkers, attorneys and other parties involved with the case. Hess said that volunteer roles are flexible, so volunteers can manage their hours around other commitments. "CASA volunteers advocate for the child's best interests, which can lead to better outcomes in terms of safety, permanency, and well-being," she continued. "Their detailed reports and recommendations can influence court decisions and ensure that the child's voice is heard. By providing consistent support and attention, CASA volunteers help children feel more secure and valued, which is especially important for children who have experienced trauma or instability." On the other hand, "CASA volunteers find the experience to be deeply rewarding," Hess said. Volunteers also "gain a sense of purpose and satisfaction from making real, immediate, lifelong differences in a child's life and contributing to the community." "Volunteering with CASA can enhance a person's connection to their community and provide a greater understanding of the challenges faced by children and families in the foster care system," she concluded. "Every single one of our current volunteers has told us about their nerves and doubts they had going into the training and even taking their first case on if they were cut out for being a CASA. It isn't until the volunteers witness the child light up to see them or seeing the child happier because of a change they advocated for that the nerves and doubts fade away." The next volunteer training course will take place at 5 p.m. Sept. 3 at CASA's Tiffin office, 21 Court St. To find out more information about CASA or to receive an application, visit CASA's website at casaofssw.org or call 419-448-1442.