CASA of Cecil County Welcomes 'First Class' Volunteers

Elkton, Md. – Having completed 30 hours of classroom training and two to three hours of court observation, five volunteers will officially be able to help abused or neglected children in foster care.

Earlier this month at the courthouse on E. Main Street in Elkton, the Honorable Judge Jane Cairns Murray swore in the following individuals as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) in the CASA of Cecil County program: Jerry W. David of Port Deposit, Deborah Bennett Carbin of Osprey Cove, Cori Newell of Rising Sun, Annmarie Hamilton and Heather Kellum of Elkton.

“I would like to publicly thank Judge Murray for administering the oath, and to our newly trained community members who will step up to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children here in our community, “said Giulia M. Hodge, Executive Director for CASA of Cecil County.

The group, composed of retirees, a nonprofit professional, a courtroom clerk, and a registered nurse, these were sworn in as the first of many classes to become advocates for the abused and neglected children of Cecil County.

“I plan to combine my strong legal background and passion for helping children as a CASA volunteer,” said Bennet Carbin, a retired paralegal. “Making sure that children are treated with compassion and are safe, loved and protected has always been something I wanted to do; I figured what better way to do that than as a CASA volunteer,” she added.

“A CASA volunteer establishes a relationship with the child and gathers information from third parties,” said Hodge. “Whether it be through the child’s teachers, guidance counselors, foster parents, their primary goal is to make sure that the voices of children are heard within the courts and that their needs do not go un-met,” she added.

“I look forward to meeting a child who can benefit from having a positive role model in his or her life,” said Kellum, a Registered Nurse working for Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, De. “I hope to make a difference in the life of a child and I am certain that once I am assigned to a case that he or she will make a profound difference in mine,” she added.

CASA of Cecil County seeks dedicated men and women who care about children to volunteer. No special experience is required; training and supervision are provided by professional staff. To learn more about becoming a CASA volunteer, please call 1-410-996-3025 or email Giulia Hodge, Executive Director at info@cecilcasa.org.

About CASA of Cecil County

CASA of Cecil County is one of 15 local CASA programs throughout the state, which recruit, train and supervise volunteers appointed by the court to serve as advocates for children under court protection due to abuse and neglect. Currently, CASA serves children in 21 of the state’s 24 jurisdictions. By sustaining and strengthening the capacity of the program and the competency of its diverse community of volunteers, CASA hopes to continue to expand until all children who have suffered from abuse and neglect and live in foster care in Cecil County are matched with CASA volunteers who will help them navigate their experience in foster care until they are placed in safe, nurturing and permanent homes.

Photo 1 (L to R): Jerry David; Deborah Bennett Carbin, Heather Kellum, Annmarie Hamilton, and Cori Newell

Photo 2: Deborah Bennett Carbin

Photo 3: Heather Kellum