CASA of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, WV, Inc. of Greenbrier and Pocahontas Counties has just been awarded certification by the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association. The certification recognizes that CASA of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit is in compliance with National CASA’s high standards for quality child advocacy.
According to Tara Perry, deputy CEO/Chief Operating Officer of the National CASA Association, “The National CASA quality assurance process is very rigorous, and reflects our commitment to ensure every child served has a powerful volunteer advocate working on their behalf and a strong program supporting their work. This certification says CASA of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit has demonstrated to us the capacity to provide excellent advocacy to the abused and neglected children within their community.”
Anytime a child is abused or neglected, it’s a tragedy – one that all too often scars victims for a lifetime.
Imagine losing your parents, friends, and even your home as a child, not because of something you did, but because of something your parents did – neglected to take care of you. You do not have your favorite shirt, lucky socks or sometimes even your own clothes. Everything you love and are familiar with is now gone. Now into your life comes dozens of strangers: police, social workers, foster parents, lawyers, Judges, CASA Volunteers, forensic interviewers, domestic violence counselors, and so on. How powerless and out of control one must feel for being “punished” because their parents did not take care of them. These children did nothing wrong, yet they lose everything.
Every 36 seconds, a child is abuse or neglected in the USA. Every hour a child is abused or neglected in West Virginia.
The CASA of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, WV, Inc. was started in October of 2001 but did not start serving children until 2004. Since inception, CASA has helped 569 children with 45 advocates. Of these 569 children, 422 have achieved permanency; 170 adoptions, 38 legal guardianships and 210 children were reunited with their parents. This past fiscal year, the program served 248 children (from July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015). 98 of these children have been permanently placed in safe and permanent homes; 43 adoptions, 10 legal guardianships and 42 have returned home to their parents.
Our local CASA needs your help but most importantly, our local foster children need you. If you are in the situation where you help a child for 5-10 hours a month with a strong desire to help our children find programs to assist with independence and/ or safe, loving and nurturing families then call us, we also need you!
CASA invites you to become a powerful voice in a child’s life. CASA, which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates, trains volunteer advocates to speak on behalf of abused and neglected children in the court system. CASA of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit serves Greenbrier and Pocahontas Counties. CASA was created to ensure the abuse and neglect these children suffered at home does not continue in the system. Judges appoint CASA volunteers to be a voice for these children in court, which results in the children being placed in safe homes where they can thrive.
CASA volunteer advocates are ordinary people doing extraordinary things who donate 3-10 hours a month to helping the children they are assigned.
Please become a powerful voice in a child’s life by contacting 304-645-5437 or casa11c@live.com to become a volunteer advocate. CASA welcomes volunteers from all cultures, professions, ethnic and educational backgrounds. More information about CASA can be found on our website at casaadvocates.org. You can also become a powerful voice in a child’s life by donating to CASA of the 11th Judicial Circuit. All donations are appreciated, and help more abused and neglected children find a CASA Advocate. Donations may be sent to CASA of the 11th Judicial Circuit; P.O. Box 1142; Lewisburg, WV 24901.