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Abused children receive hope from CASA

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Contributed by: simone jones on 4/13/2007

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Adams and Broomfield Counties is a nonprofit organization that recruits, trains, supports, and supervises community volunteers who advocate for abused and neglected children that are involved in the court system, through no fault of their own.

Children that have been abused or neglected by their parents or guardians are generally taken away from their families, neighborhoods, schools, friends, and siblings, and placed in foster care for 12-18 months while their parents are involved with the courts. These children are scared, confused, and angry. Most of all, these children need a committed adult figure who will be consistent, dependable, and caring, and who can give these innocent victims a voice in court.

Community members do not have to have any special professional training to become a dedicated CASA Volunteer. CASA Volunteerssubmit a written application, participate in a personal interview with CASA staff, pass extensive background checks, and complete 35 hours of pre-service training that is provided in the evenings and on weekends.

After a volunteer has completed training, he or she is then sworn in as an Officer of the Court in the 17th Judicial District courts. CASA of Adams & Broomfield Counties serves children from Bennett, Brighton, Broomfield, Commerce City, Federal Heights, Henderson, Northglenn, Strasburg, Thornton, Westminster, unincorporated areas of Adams County, and portions of Arvada, Aurora, and Denver. Every year there are over 1,500 children involved in the court system, who are in desperate need of a CASA Volunteer.

CASA Volunteers advocate for the best interests of children who have been sexually, physically, or emotionally abused or neglected. They spend 3-5 hours a week interviewing parents, foster parents, relatives, teachers, therapists, doctors, and anyone else that has an interest in the child. The dedicated volunteer's most important job is to visit with the child and to ensure that all their emotional, physical, and educational needs are being met at all times. CASA Volunteers then compile all of their collected information into a well-written, objective court report. CASA Volunteers make recommendations to the judge about visitation, therapy, needed services, educational , emotional, and physical issues, and ultimately permanency. The volunteer attends court hearings approximately every 3 months. The Judge relies heavily on the information and recommendations of the CASA Volunteers who spend the most time with the child, and who generally have the most comprehensive investigative information.

The CASA Volunteer is often the only consistent adult figure that remains with the child throughout the length of the case. CASA Volunteers works first, last, and always for the best interests of the child. 75 percent of all of our CASA Volunteers have fulltime jobs and families. Even so, these dedicated advocates make room in their lives and hearts for the voiceless victims of child abuse and neglect.

CASA Volunteers are essential to break the cycle of abuse and neglect. These committed members of our communities are true angels here on earth. A grant in the amount of $1,000 will enable this CASA program to recruit and train more community volunteers who will make a lifelong difference in the life of a child!

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simone jones

brighton , CO

simone jones has posted 21 stories and 0 comments since joining on 9/28/2006. simone jones 's average story rating is 0.

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