Delco Youth Advocate Volunteers Honored For Service To Abused And Neglected Children

Volunteers who work with Court Appointed Special Advocates, or simply CASA, in Delaware County were recently honored for their work to protected children who have been abused or neglected and have to be adjudicated.

In the United States, there are nearly a half million children and youth in foster care, according to a Delaware County press release. The good news is, there are dedicated volunteers who act as advocates for these children and youth as they go through the confusing, complicated and often frightening world of foster care, the county said

At a recent Delaware County Council meeting, Councilman John McBlain recognized these volunteers who work with CASA.

In Delaware County, a CASA organization was created in 1992 by the Delaware County Courts, County Council and Children and Youth Services, the county said.

“Believing that ‘every child needs a champion,’ CASA works to ensure that every abused or neglected child who has been an adjudicated dependent has the right to a safe, nurturing and permanent home environment,” McBlain said in a statement. “That is not an easy task. CASA volunteers are highly trained to navigate the legal and child welfare systems, which sometimes means understanding the mental health, disability and education systems too.”

McBlain recognized CASA Director Anne Shenberger and the 2016 Volunteers of the Year who were honored at CASA’s gala on Dec. 2.

McBlain also gave a brief account of the honorees accomplishments:

• Tony McCarthy of Newtown Square has volunteered with CASA for six years and has advocated on behalf of 12 children in seven cases. He is presently helping three brothers. He’s had some difficult cases and sought to minimize the pain and conflict for each child. Last year, he championed a boy with cerebral palsy to a very positive outcome.
• Carol Cottone of Haverford has volunteered for three years and advocates for two teenage boys. She says she’s not an attorney or social worker, “just a scrappy person with patience and perseverance who wanted to do something meaningful.” She helped a young man overcome many obstacles to graduate from high school and start college this fall.
• Nancy DiSilvestro of Haverford completed her CASA training in 2015 and has since helped three sisters in a very difficult case. They were placed in separate homes and did not see each other and Nancy worked hard to establish court-ordered sibling visits. She said she’s learned how much strength a foster child has “to endure, to survive and to be resilient.”
• Mary Landers of Berwyn has been with CASA for six years and has helped seven children. Her first case involved siblings who were 3 and 7 months old. They were successfully adopted. She also started a book club among the CASA advocates where they read and discuss books that deal with the foster care system.

“We all owe a debt of gratitude and admiration to the CASA volunteers. These case are all heart-breaking and it takes a courageous, compassionate person to work through them,” McBlain said in a statement.

Pictured above in front from left to right are Director of Children and Youth Services Deirdre Gordon, CASA board president Anthony Cavaliere, CASA Director Anne Shenberger, Councilman John McBlain, CASA volunteer Carol Cottone, CASA staff Leigh Anne McKelvey, and CYS staff Dorelle Miller. In back, from left to right, are Council members Mike Culp, Vice Chair Colleen Morrone, Chairman Mario J. Civera Jr., and Human Services Director Joe Dougherty.

Image via Delaware County