Every year in Erie County, hundreds of abused and neglected children are reported. Many of them are removed from their homes for their own protection and placed in foster care. Their future is decided by the Erie County Family Court Judg
e. In order to make an informed decision, the Judge relies on the CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer to provide him or her with very important information regarding the child’s unique circumstances.
CASA volunteers are men and women who commit their time and efforts to ensure that every abused and neglected child has a strong voice in court. As an appointed officer of the court, the CASA volunteer searches for as much information as possible regarding the child. They review records; interview parents and relatives; talk to health care providers; teachers; neighbors and most importantly-the child. Once a volunteer has completed gathering all the pertinent information, the CASA volunteer makes fact-based recommendations to the court that focuses on the child’s “best interest.”
You can make a difference in a child’s life by becoming a CASA volunteer.
For more information on becoming a CASA volunteer, a CASA colleague, or a CASA board of trustees, please call 419-621-0324 or via email at ohcasakids@yahoo.com
If you are not able to contribute your time, you can make a difference by make a charitable contribution to the Erie County CASA Program at 141 East Water Street # 208, Sandusky, OH 44870.
On a daily basis, the abused and neglected children of Erie County deal with difficult circumstances that most people never encounter in a lifetime. Compounding the situation, the child is often surrounded by strangers, police, foster parents, social workers, and judges.
Having a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) means having a trained community volunteer who is appointed by a judge to represent a child’s “best interest” in court. A CASA volunteer ensures that a child is led through the juvenile justice system without getting lost in the proceedings. The CASA volunteer is one constant adult in a child’s life.
Becoming a CASA volunteer is truly a rewarding experience. You can make a difference between homelessness and safety, dropping out and graduation, unemployment and success, and between jail and productivity.
Be the voice of hope for an abused child. If you are interested in becoming a CASA volunteer please fill out the CASA volunteer application. Go to the volunteer application link. Please return the completed application to ohcasakids@yahoo.com or mail to CASA 141 East Water Street # 208, Sandusky OH 44870.