Judge administers oath to nine new CASA volunteers
Soraya Fernandez of Cranford is among the latest class of community volunteers to complete child advocacy training and take their oath from Superior Court Judge James Hely to become Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Union County. After being sworn in, Fernandez noted that she decided to become a CASA because, “It only takes one person to change a life. I’m hoping I can be that positive influence for a child.”
Volunteers with CASA serve as extra eyes and ears for family law judges hearing cases involving the county’s abused, neglected or abandoned children removed from home and placed in foster care. They have court-ordered access to all parties in a foster child’s life, including foster parents, doctors, caseworkers, therapists and teachers, and incorporate findings into court reports from these contacts as well as time spent with the youth. In addition to ensuring their needs are met and best interests protected, the CASA volunteers aim to become a constant in the life of their assigned youth, who are living amid unknowns about their future, changing caseworkers and multiple foster homes.
The new advocates are ages 28 to 72 and include parents and non-parents; professionals in business, technology, education and law enforcement; students; retirees; and homemakers. Most had no prior knowledge of the foster system. Each will soon receive their case and meet the foster youth for whom they will advocate.
It is CASA of Union County’s goal that every Union County foster child have an advocate, yet half of the more than 500 such youth still await one. Could you be their voice? Two trainings are slated for the fall. For details, contact Courtney at 908-293-8136 or cgreen@casaofunioncounty.org, or log on to www.casaofunioncounty.org.
(above) Cranford resident Soraya Fernandez was sworn in to become a Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Union County, along with 8 other new volunteers.
