Child Advocacy Organization Asks Community to Make Worthy New Year's Resolution

WAYNE, N.J. - Jan. 10, 2014 - PRLog -- Passaic County, NJ- Passaic County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for Children is asking people to make a difference with their New Year’s resolutions by becoming a volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate to a local child who is under court protection because of abuse, neglect or abandonment, or by making a financial contribution to the organization.

Court appointed special advocate volunteers receive in-depth training to advocate in court and in the community for the needs and rights of children in out of home placement. CASA volunteers come from all walks of life and professions. In Passaic County, more than 700 children were living in out-of-home placement last year because their homes were no longer safe.  These children lead uncertain lives: some are in foster care, others in group homes, some in shelters; many of them are separated from their siblings; most of them don’t understand what has happened or why.  Only 25% of these children had the benefit of a CASA volunteer due to the limited numbers of volunteers available.  The programs goal in 2014 is to increase the number of children served.

“Volunteers spend time getting to know the child they are appointed to by talking with the child and everyone in that child’s life: parents and family members, caretakers, teachers, medical professionals, attorneys, social workers and others. The information they gather is used by judges and other professionals in making crucial decisions to meet each child’s needs, with the goal of obtaining a safe, permanent home for these children,” said Erica Fischer-Kaslander, Executive Director of Passaic County CASA for Children.

Following application and screening, prospective CASA volunteers complete 36 plus hours of pre-service training. Once they are assigned to a case, they can expect to spend an average of about 10 hours a month doing things such as getting to know the child, gathering information, exploring resources to meet the child’s needs, attending court hearings and writing reports.

Passaic County CASA is now recruiting volunteers for the Spring training classes. For more information and receive an application, visit CASA online at www.passaiccountycasa.org or contact Office Coordinator Stephen Wesolowski at 973-832-4002. Interested volunteers are invited to attend an upcoming orientation session on January 28, 2014 at 6pm at 415 Hamburg Tpk, Suite B-1, Wayne. Please call 973-832-4002 to RSVP.