CASA for Lancaster County Offers Training for New Volunteer Advocates

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children) for Lancaster County (www.casa4lancaster.org) is offering training for new volunteer advocates. CASA is looking for more caring adult volunteers who are interested in working to provide a voice for children in juvenile court. CASA volunteers gather information about the children’s circumstances and write reports to the judge giving them more information and providing recommendations for needed services and next steps.

New volunteer training is a 30-hour curriculum presented through a combination of online and in-class learning. In-class sessions are held on Tuesday evenings at the CASA office, located at 1141 H St. in Lincoln. Their first new volunteer training for 2019 begins Tuesday, January 22.

CASA for Lancaster County recruits, trains, and supports community volunteers who advocate for the best interests of abused, neglected, truant, and ungovernable children in juvenile court. In 2017, 106 community members volunteered as advocates, helping to serve 230 children in Lancaster County. Statewide, CASA programs have served Nebraska children for 31 years, and while the number of volunteers grows each year, there are still around 2,000 children without advocates.

The Nebraska CASA Association serves 47 counties in Nebraska. For more information about volunteering with CASA for Lancaster County, visit www.casa4lancaster.org or contact (402) 474-5161 / drockey@casa4lancaster.org.