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 Rahway’s own Julaine Bianculli and Deborah Mathis.
The new Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteers completed 30 hours of training over six weeks and will next observe court to see other CASA volunteers in action. After performing the oath, Judge Lindemann stepped off the bench and personally thanked each advocate for committing to serve children in need of a voice. Several of the nonprofit’s board members participated, providing each new advocate a commemorative pin and certificate. During a celebratory luncheon that followed, each advocate was matched to their new case.
Volunteers with varied backgrounds and life experiences make successful advocates, and this class is no different. They range from age 23 to 81, some are parents, some empty-nesters, and others have no children. Some have lived out of the country or elsewhere in the United States, and careers include business, real estate, education and stay-at-home parents. 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, 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.
