Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA for Children) of Monmouth County is seeking adults, 21 years and older, to act as advocates for children in foster care.
A CASA volunteer is a trained citizen who is appointed by a judge to represent the best interests of a child in court. There are currently 550 children from Monmouth County who have been removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect, according to a press release.
Although CASA for Children of Monmouth County continues to serve more of these children each year, the need for CASA volunteers continues to grow as more children enter the child welfare and court systems. To help meet this need, CASA is seeking caring, committed adults who are willing to speak up for a child as he or she goes through the court system, according to the press release.
CASA volunteers work one-on-one with an abused or neglected child, advocating for his or her best interests. Essentially, CASA volunteers “speak up” for these children in the court and child welfare systems, making sure they are safe and well-cared for, are getting the services they need, and are placed in a permanent, safe, nurturing home as quickly as possible, according to the press release.
These children may have health, learning, emotional or psychological challenges and need special services that the court should be aware of through the CASA volunteer’s updates.
“CASA volunteers don’t require any specific education. All they need is compassion, objectivity and a commitment to children. We will train and supervise them to be effective voices in court,” said Cynthia Van Brunt, executive director, CASA for Children of Monmouth County.
“Our volunteers come from all walks of life and diverse socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds. They are ordinary individuals who rise to the extraordinary by making a difference in the life of a child,” she said.
Anyone interested in volunteer opportunities may visit www.casaofmonmouth.org for upcoming information sessions and program details or contact Lynn Goelz at 732-460-9100 or lynn@casaforchildrenmc.org for more information.
