LANCASTER,PA (09/24/2019) – On Wednesday, September 18th, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Lancaster County, welcomed a group of ten new CASA volunteers:
• Karen Conley, Lancaster
• Susan George, Lititz
• Kelsey Madas, Manheim
• Alicia Martin, Lancaster
• Jennifer Michaelos, Leola
• Talonda Stokes, Lancaster
• Brad Weesner, Lancaster
• Karen Weissmann, Millersville
• Mary Westcott, New Holland
• Ron Westcott, New Holland
Family and friends gathered at Emerald Foundation Community Campus as Judge Spahn swore in the excited and eager new set of volunteers. The evening was a celebration of the hard-work and 32 hours of in-class training each volunteer completed in order to help children in Lancaster County’s foster care system. “In training, volunteers learn how their role as a CASA fits into the child welfare system and how they can be the most effective advocate for the most vulnerable children,” stated CASA’s Director of Training and Recruitment Laura Golomb.
Once assigned, CASA volunteers meet with the child(ren) they serve regularly: learn about their needs, help them navigate foster care, attend court hearings, and meet with all parties involved in the child’s life. “The Children and Youth workers, the judges, the guardian ad litems…and the CASAs work together to make sure each child is safe and finds permanency,” stated Lancaster County’s Children and Youth Executive Director Crystal Natan. “We may have different opinions, but we all have the same goal: to help a child in need.”
The most vulnerable members of our community, abused and neglected children, need your help more than ever. To learn more about helping these children and CASA of Lancaster, call (717) 208-3280 or email casa@casalancaster.org. To get daily updates follow CASA on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn @CASALancaster and Instagram @CASA_of_Lancaster.
