Union County Superior Court Judge Daniel R. Lindemann recently administered oaths to 16 Union County residents — among them Nicole DellaVecchia of Cranford — to serve as extra eyes and ears for Family Court judges on cases involving abused, neglected or abandoned children currently in foster care. This marks the 30th training class since Court Appointed Special Advocates of Union County began in 2005. A 17th volunteer was sworn in at a later date.
The new CASA volunteers completed 30 hours of training over six weeks. After performing the oath, Judge Lindemann stepped off the bench and thanked each advocate for committing to serve children in need of a voice. A member of the nonprofit’s board participated, and each new advocate was provided a commemorative pin and certificate. During a celebratory luncheon that followed, advocates were matched to their new case. Before starting that work, though, they observed court proceedings to see other CASA volunteers in action. Already, most are in the trenches, working their cases and making inroads for their assigned youth.
DellaVecchia noted, “I just had my first court appearance for the girl I’m working with, and I’m really enjoying my experience as a CASA volunteer. You not only get the opportunity to give and help a child, but you learn a lot about yourself along the way. We tend to live only in our day-to-day experiences, forgetting there are kids living in our very own communities that need us. I’m honored to be involved with an organization whose mission is to help children and give them a voice!”
Volunteers with varied backgrounds and experiences make successful advocates, and this class is no exception: Ages range from 33 to 80 and include parents, empty-nesters and non-parents; careers include health professionals, school personnel, attorneys and stay-at-home parents. Several experienced abuse in their own childhoods, and one was a CASA years ago who returned to help another child now that her schedule allowed. Most have no prior knowledge of the foster system.
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 time spent with the youth. Volunteers advocate both in the community and court to ensure their youth’s needs are met and time in care is as short as possible. There are 600 Union County children in foster care; CASA of Union County advocates for approximately one-quarter of those and its mission is to provide an advocate for every child that needs one.
The next training class kicks off Sept. 27 in Westfield. For details on that training class, or other ways to help stand up for foster children, contact Lisa at (908) 527-7048 or lporis@casaofunioncounty.org.
(above) Shown with CASA of Union County’s Interim Director Lori Morris, far left, is the newest graduating class of volunteer advocates, Team 30. From left are Vanessa Chivers, Summit; Susan Boykin, Scotch Plains; Cynthia Galligan, Summit; Linda Fuller, Berkeley Heights; Delores Perkins, Roselle; Caroline Parker, Elizabeth; Erica Sack, Summit; Sharyn Perlstein, Springfield; Kristin Sanborn, Summit; Anne Koons, Westfield; Nicole DellaVecchia, Cranford; Tracy Forsyth, Summit; Janice Fusaro, Westfield; Lorraine Loza, Kenilworth; and Bev Luehs and Ellen Moore, Summit. Not shown: Tawana Love of Linden, sworn in at a later date.
