Community Corner
An Alternative to Diets and Gym Memberships: Resolve to Make a Difference this Year
Court Appointed Special Advocate recommends making a New Year's resolution to make a difference in a child's life through volunteering.
Riverdale, MD, January 1, 2015- New Year’s resolutions typically focus on self-improvement: “lose weight”, “stop smoking”, “exercise more often”. This year, resolve to do something to make a difference in the world beyond your own: improve the life of an abused or neglected child in foster care.
Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers receive in-depth training to advocate in court and in the community for the needs and rights of children in foster care. CASA volunteers come from all walks of life and professions and have one thing in common: they care about kids and want to make a difference.
“Volunteers get to know the child they represent by talking with everyone in that child’s life: parents and relatives, foster parents, teachers, medical professionals, attorneys, social workers and others. They use the information they gather to inform judges and others of what the child needs and what will be the best permanent home for them,” explains Ann Marie Binsner, Executive Director of Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/Prince George’s County.
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CASA volunteers complete a 37-hour pre-service training. Once they are assigned to a case, they can expect to spend an average of about 10-15 hours a month getting to know the child, gathering information, exploring resources to meet the child’s needs, representing the child in court and writing reports. Volunteers receive ongoing education and support from their local program as well as from the National CASA Association.
“It’s one of the most personally rewarding experiences I’ve ever had,” says local volunteer Clare Hines. “For the kids I’ve worked with, I’ve been the only consistent, supportive, non-compensated adult in their lives. My sole responsibility is to protect their rights by standing in the gap, on their behalf and to find them a safe and nurturing forever home. I know that I’m not just helping these children, but their kids and their grandkids and generations of kids to follow.”
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To learn more about how you can make a difference in the life of an abused or neglected child here in our community, contact Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/Prince George’s County by calling 301-209-0491 or emailing staff@pgcasa.org.
“Becoming an advocate for foster children will be the best resolution you can make for this year or any year,” Hines concludes.
CALL-TO-ACTION
Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/Prince George’s County can only reach 20% of the children in need each year. That means nearly 400 children have no one advocating for their rights. The CASA program is committed to making sure that every child in need has access to a CASA volunteer. CASA/Prince George’s County is holding an informational event Wednesday, February 4th from 6-7pm in the Hyattsville Administrative Building at 4310 Gallatin Street to recruit more volunteers and offer community members an opportunity to help in the fight against child abuse. CASA will hold the next training for volunteers from April 1-29th. Interested individuals must submit an application to be considered for the training.
CONTACT
Please contact CASA/Prince George’s County at 301-209-0491 or visit their Web site at www.pgcasa.org.
Media Contact
Ann Marie Binsner, Executive Director 301-209-0491