CASA Welcomes Largest Class Of Volunteers

More than 20 new CASA volunteers were sworn in on March 8, adding to the number of community members who are speaking up for abused and neglected children in the court system.

“I feel like I did when I walked into my first volunteer training classroom, nervous and excited at the same time,” new CASA Volunteer Whitney Lee said about the ability to now advocate for the best interest of a child in the care of Child Protective Services. “I am looking forward to being given the chance to help improve the life of a child and his or her family.”

Court Appointed Special Advocates of Central Texas advocates for abused and neglected children in the community by recruiting, training, and supporting community volunteers. CASA volunteers are appointed to children who are confirmed victims of abuse or neglect to independently investigate the case and provide recommendations to the family court judge, what is in the best interest of the child. They often serve as the only consistent adult in the child’s life.

“CASA volunteers explain to the child the events that are happening, why they are in foster care, and the roles the judge, attorneys, and caseworkers play. Advocates offer the children what no one else can: consistency and continuity in the midst of all the chaos the children are experiencing.” Executive Director Norma Castilla-Blackwell said. “In the course of a typical case, the child will experience several foster placements, new schools, caseworker turnover and one Advocate. The trust that is built allows the CASA to encourage the children to express their feelings and to feel safe. All the while the advocates remain objective observers.”

New CASA Volunteer Carla Stovall said she is ready to advocate for a child.

“I was surprised at how extensive the training was, how knowledgeable all of the staff is and how many children in my community need CASA,” she said. “I feel very prepared for accepting a case, the training was very informative and I know the CASA staff is there to answer any questions I will have.” 

CASA volunteers come from all backgrounds with different experiences and CASA of Central Texas provides the necessary training.  More volunteers are needed in Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe and Hays Counties. Castilla-Blackwell said becoming a CASA volunteer is a way to make a direct impact in your community one child at a time.

 “We assign our volunteers to one case at a time, to make sure the children receive the attention they need. But, that means we are only serving as many children as we have volunteers,” Castilla-Blackwell said. “We need more volunteers to reach our goal of serving 100 percent of the children who are currently in the state’s care.”

More than half of the children in State care do not have a CASA volunteer in Central Texas. That is more than 700 children in Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe and Hays Counties. Free training courses will be held throughout the year. For dates and to enroll in a training course, please contact CASA at (512) 392-3578 or (830) 626-2272, or visit www.casacentex.org.

Stovall encourages others to consider becoming a CASA Volunteer.

“This is a great opportunity to help a child, and as a CASA volunteer you can make a direct, positive impact on the child’s life while helping out the community in which you live,” she said. 

Learn more about CASA at a monthly information session, held the first Wednesday of each month at the New Braunfels CASA office and the third Wednesday of each month in the San Marcos CASA office. Additional information sessions will be held as scheduled. Check www.casacentex.org for times and locations.