Court-appointed volunteer advocates for children urgently needed
The Office of the Child Advocate - Court Appointed Special Advocate Program of Delaware is expanding its efforts to represent the interests of abused and neglected children.
The number of children entering foster care continues to increase daily. The CASA Delaware program needs an additional 200 qualified adult volunteers to undergo training to help advocate for these vulnerable children, and to ensure each child has a CASA volunteer by their side.
Currently, CASA Delaware only represents 50% of the children in foster care.
Research shows that children with a CASA volunteer to advocate for them are less likely to re-enter foster care; more likely to find a safe, permanent home, spending less time in foster care; and more likely to perform better in school.
Trained community members are appointed by a Family Court judge to be a voice for Delaware’s abused and neglected children in court proceedings. The CASA volunteer conducts an independent investigation into the child’s life, and provides information and recommendations to the judge. CASA volunteers work with attorneys, social workers and family members to attain a safe and permanent home for each child.
CASA volunteers have varied professional, educational and ethnic backgrounds. They are selected on the basis of their objectivity, competence and commitment. Each volunteer accepted into the program must complete 30 hours of initial training. Casework supervision is provided by full-time CASA program coordinators, with guidance from attorneys.
The problems of child abuse and neglect belong to everyone. For more information, contact Lauren Brueckner at 302-245-1895 or lauren.brueckner@delaware.gov. To apply online, go to courts.delaware.gov/childadvocate/casa.
