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WAYNE, NJ- As we prepare for a fun-filled summer, let's not forget the more than 300 children who are in Passaic County’s foster care system each year. You can make a difference in the life of an abused and neglected child in Passaic County by becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate.
For the last 15 years, Passaic County CASA for Children has provided court-appointed volunteer advocates for children throughout Passaic County who have been removed from home due to abuse and/or neglect. Passaic County CASA for Children requires the generosity of community volunteers to step up and serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates for each of these children.
The goal of each volunteer advocate is to make sure children receive the services they need and achieves permanency in a safe, nurturing home.
"I was filled with so many emotions when I received my first case, but knowing I would make a difference in a child's life, made it all worth it," CASA volunteer Andrea Nieves recently shared. CASA volunteers serve as the child’s voice in the court and child welfare systems. CASA volunteers play a critical role in ensuring this happens by visiting their assigned child monthly, interviewing interested parties, reviewing records, attending court hearings and providing reports to the Judge.
Attending an upcoming information session is the first step to becoming a volunteer advocate. These sessions allow prospective volunteers to learn more about the program and ask questions about the volunteer experience. The next full training class for new volunteers begins in September.
Upcoming Information Sessions are scheduled for Tuesday, May 23, 2023, at 10:00 am; Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at 10:00 am; and Thursday, June 8, 2023, at 5:30 pm.
For more information about the volunteer program, visit www.passaiccountycasa.org or e-mail Sasha at sasha@passaiccountycasa.org. To sign up for an informational session, visit https://www.passaiccountycasa.org/info-sessions or call 973-832-4002.
About Passaic County CASA for Children
Passaic County CASA is part of a statewide network of community-based, non-profit programs that recruit, screen, train, and supervise volunteers to “Speak Up for a Child” removed from home due to abuse or neglect. CASA is the only program in New Jersey that uses trained volunteers to work one-on-one with children, ensuring that each child receives needed services and achieves permanency in a safe, nurturing home. Visit www.passaiccountycasa.org for more information about how you can get involved.
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Press release via: Sasha Lowery, Outreach and Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator
