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County CASA Program to Enhance Child Welfare;
Protect At-Risk Children -- Executive Director Hired;
Volunteers Needed
Posted 3-8-07
Volunteers are needed to help with a new Westmoreland County
program designed to help children at risk of abuse and neglect.
The county's new Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program
is a partnership of county government, the court system, and
private citizens to help promote the welfare of vulnerable
children.
The CASA Board of Directors recently named
Rachael Lord of Irwin as the program's first Executive Director.
She begins service March 12.
"I am excited and honored to have been given the
opportunity to implement a CASA program in Westmoreland County,"
Lord said. "I believe wholeheartedly in the mission and
objectives of CASA, and with the support of the Family Court,
the County Commissioners, the Children's Bureau and other
community partners, I will work to ensure that the best
interests of Westmoreland County's most vulnerable population
are fully represented in court."
A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)
volunteer is a trained citizen who is appointed by a judge to
represent the best interests of a child in court. Children
helped by CASA volunteers include those for whom home placement
is being determined in juvenile court. Most of the children are
victims of abuse and neglect. CASA volunteers offer children
trust and advocacy during complex legal proceedings. They do not
provide legal representation in the courtroom.
A CASA volunteer provides a judge with carefully
researched background details about the child to help the court
make a sound decision about that child's future. Each home
placement case is as unique as the child involved. The CASA
volunteer must determine if the best interest of the child is
staying with his/her parents or guardians, being placed in
foster care, or being freed for permanent adoption. The CASA
volunteer makes a recommendation on placement to the judge and
follows through on the case until it is permanently resolved.
The CASA program was a key component of a 2006
report issued by the Westmoreland County Children's Bureau Task
Force -- a panel named by county commissioners Tom Balya, Tom
Ceraso, and Phil Light to recommend improvements to the county's
children and youth services.
"There is no greater interest to protect than
the health and safety of innocent children, and the CASA program
will go a long way toward ensuring quality service," said County
Commissioner Chairman Tom Balya. "This partnership of county
government, the courts and private citizens will augment the
services provided for vulnerable children by county
caseworkers."
"While CASA will act as an independent county
entity we look forward to helping the program achieve its
mission and providing the necessary support," added Commissioner
Tom Ceraso.
The CASA program was established as a non-profit
organization and is being funded almost in its entirety through
a private sponsorship, with support from Westmoreland County.
Rachael Lord comes to the CASA program with more
than 12 years experience working with children and families,
including extensive grant writing, research, program development
and publication experience. She most recently served as a
researcher with the National Center for Juvenile Justice, the
research arm of the National Council of Juvenile and Family
Court Judges. A graduate of Arizona State University, she has
been published frequently on the topics of family law and court
improvements.
"Rachael Lord has demonstrated a commitment to
protecting children from abuse and neglect," said Westmoreland
County Family Court Judge Christopher Feliciani. "As CASA's
first executive director she will be embarking on a historical
undertaking in Westmoreland County. For the first time,
volunteer men and women from our community will be able to
provide the courts with a voice on behalf of abused and
neglected children."
Beginning March 12, those interested in becoming
a CASA volunteer should contact the CASA office, located on the
fourth floor of the Westmoreland County Courthouse, at
724.850.6874 or e-mail
casawc@co.westmoreland.pa.us.
Volunteers should be dedicated, committed men
and women who care about children and are willing to stand up
for them and make a difference in their lives. Volunteers should
be willing to commit for at least a year, be able to interview a
variety of sources and remain objective in recommendations,
effectively communicate orally and written, be willing to go
through an in-depth training class and pass a background check.
The CASA program is overseen by a volunteer
Board of Directors consisting of Donald Snyder, Esquire
(President), Diane Morelli (Vice President), Mandy Welty
(Secretary), Scott Turer (Treasurer), Kory Smith, James Okonak,
Donald Ivill, Dr. Steven Selip, Dr. Mary Ann Gawalek, Elaine
Frantz, Jeff Imbrescia and Tracy Smith.
For more information, including a volunteer
application form, visit CASA though the Westmoreland County
homepage at
www.co.westmoreland.pa.us (keyword: CASA). |
