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33 Advocates for Abused
Children Trained by the Juvenile Court
Special to The Truth
The
Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Department of the
Lucas County Juvenile Court announces the graduation of 33
CASA/GAL (Court Appointed Special Advocates / Guardians ad
Litem). On Friday, February 15, 2008, Juvenile Court Judges
Denise Navarre Cubbon and Connie Zemmelman swore in its
newest class of CASA/GAL as officers of the court to serve
as the guardians ad litem and to represent the best
interests of an abused or neglected child who has been
removed from his or her home because of the imminent risk of
harm.
CASA
volunteers are ordinary citizens from all walks of life who
are trained to advocate for abused and neglected children.
The CASA volunteer conducts an independent investigation by
interviewing the child victim, parents, relatives, school
officials, doctors and others involved in the child’s life
who may have facts about the case or the child’s well
being. The CASA volunteer remains on the case, making
recommendations to the court and advocating for the child
until a safe, permanent home is found for the child.
Among
those who were sworn in as CASA volunteers were six
African-Americans: Fonsa Bell, a mentor and tutor; Jeigh
Carstarphen, a Lucas County Juvenile Detention Center
employee; Antoinette Gover, a nurse; Danielle Hayward, a 911
emergency dispatcher; Reverend William Lucas, the founding
pastor of Liberty Ministries; and Audrey Williams, a
security officer.
Half of
the foster care youth in Lucas County are African-American
or bi-racial. The CASA Department works hard to recruit
minorities to serve as CASA volunteers.
Highlights of the training included presentations by U.T.
Child Abuse Medical Director, Randall Schlievert, M.D., on
child abuse and neglect; Larry Hamme, Ph.D. on cultural
competence; Julie Kenniston, M.S.W., on interviewing
children; CeCe Norwood, M.A., C.D.C.A. on domestic violence;
Eileen Rood, M.A., L.S.W. on child development; and
professionals from Lucas County Children Services on safety
assessments, case plans, and the agency’s role in protecting
children in our community. The class also received training
about sexual offenders, legal report writing, advocacy
skills, substance abuse, poverty and confidentiality. The
new CASA volunteers learned about local service agencies,
attended a mock hearing, and toured Lucas County Children
Services.
About CASA
The
Lucas County CASA Program, one of the oldest and most
respected of the 1,000 CASA programs nationwide, is
non-profit and has operated in Lucas County since 1980. CASA
volunteers are everyday citizens who are trained to
investigate and monitor child abuse cases. CASA volunteers
work for the Lucas County Juvenile Court Judges and are
sworn officers of the court. CASA’s mission is to advocate
so that child victims find safe, permanent, nurturing homes
and do not get lost in the child welfare system. |
