CASA of Lancaster and Lebanon Counties encourages people who want to make a difference in their community this year to consider working as a CASA volunteer.
A court-appointed special advocate, or CASA, is a community volunteer who, after training, is appointed by a judge to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the foster care system. The CASA agency in Lancaster County expanded to include Lebanon County in 2022.
According to a previous LebTown report, these citizen volunteers are trained to advocate for the best interest of children as they navigate the foster care system. They serve at the bequest of the court system, providing factual reports for hearings and at times additional testimony, and overall seek to be a compassionate and consistent adult in the life of their designated children.
Read More: CASA swears in Lebanon County’s first advocates for foster care children
If a child has a CASA volunteer, according to Sophia Wanner, senior training manager for CASA of Lancaster and Lebanon Counties, “they are more likely to receive needed services, such as health care, therapy, and education.”
Wanner, in a press release, said the children are also “more likely to achieve safe, nurturing, and permanent homes, rather than languish in long-term care.”
CASA of Lancaster and Lebanon Counties will hold a virtual information session on Thursday, Jan. 25. Visit their website for more information.
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