Union County Superior Court Judge Daniel R. Lindemann last month administered oaths to 16 community members who stepped up to serve as extra eyes and ears for family court judges on cases involving abused, neglected or abandoned children currently in foster care. Among them were Summit’s own Cheryl Barr, Rose Franco and Craig Grosswald.
CASA volunteers have court-ordered access to all parties in a child’s life, including foster parents, doctors, caseworkers, therapists and teachers, and incorporate into court reports findings from these contacts, as well as, observations from time spent with the youth. Volunteers advocate both in the community and in court to ensure that while the youth is awaiting a safe and permanent home, their needs are met, their best interests are priority and their time in care is as short as possible.
There are currently 600 Union County children in foster care; the nonprofit serves approximately one-quarter of those youth and its mission is to provide a volunteer advocate for every child in care. CASA of Union County trains three times a year. For details on the next opportunity or for other ways to help the organization stand up for foster children, contact Lisa at (908) 527-7048 or lporis@casaofunioncounty.org.
(above) The newest CASA of Union County volunteers are, from left, standing, Emily Aschenbach of Cranford, Tom Whelan and Wigeby Toussaint of Union, Rose Franco and Craig Grosswald of Summit, Deborah Mathis of Rahway, Cheryl Barr of Summit, Doug Loffredo of Westfield, Lillie Chadwick of Union, and Julaine Bianculli of Rahway; kneeling, Rupa Motwani of Westfield, Isabella Blumberg of Springfield, Phyllis Karp and Mary Ann Foster of Westfield and Ildi Grundmann Coon of Cranford. Not shown is Maryanne Grycan of Westfield.
