CASA Offers Training for New Volunteer Advocates to Support Children in Need

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children) (www.casa4lancaster.org) for Lancaster County is offering training for new volunteer advocates. New volunteer training is a 30-hour curriculum presented through a combination of online and in-class learning. In-class sessions are held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday evenings at the CASA office, located at 1141 H St. in Lincoln (volunteers are asked to wear masks due to the size of the facility). The next new volunteer training for 2021 begins August 3 and runs weekly through September 7.

CASA is looking for 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. CASA recruits, trains, and supports community volunteers who advocate for the best interests of abused, neglected, truant, and ungovernable children who are in juvenile court. In 2020, 116 community members volunteered as advocates, providing advocacy services to 280 children in Lancaster County—a 20% increase over 2019. CASA volunteers make sure the children’s needs are met while they are in the system, and assist in moving cases forward so that children do not linger needlessly in foster care.

CASA for Lancaster County is a volunteer-driven local organization of caring people who want to “Change a Child’s Story”. For more information about becoming a volunteer advocate with CASA for Lancaster County, visit www.casa4lancaster.org or contact Dawn Rockey at (402) 474-5161 / drockey@casa4lancaster.org.