On Feb. 18, Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Timothy Schmal swore in 26 community members as Court Appointed Special Advocates for children in foster care.
All completed CASA‘s 35-hour training program.
CASA of Santa Cruz County recruits, trains, and supervises volunteer Advocates who are matched one on one with a child in the county’s dependency (foster care) court system advocating for them the entire time they have a case open with the court.
As officers of the court, CASA volunteers ensure that the children’s needs are recognized and their best interests are considered in the courtroom, school, and in the community.
Judge Schmal, who presides over the Juvenile Dependency Court, said, “It was such a privilege to swear in such a large, enthusiastic group of new CASAs. They will have a profound, positive impact on the lives of the kids who they will serve.
CASAs also play an invaluable role in informing and educating judges about their court-appointed kids — in ways that others often don’t or can’t.”
New CASAs (from left) Back Row: Jane Shtalenkova, Amber Burke, Jill Borba, Nazanin Askari Balsa, Maureen Ricketts, Emily Chambers, Brandon Napoli, Gina Vaggioli, Maria Bahena, Melanie Sobel, Daniel Atler, Laura Chiavola-Larson, Alicia Gaytan, Honorable Judge Timothy Schmal, Rachel McCullough-Sanden, Lilly Galvan, Nora Dougherty, Lilie Pham, Brian Sanford, John David. • Front Row: Jenny Hundemer (CASA trainer), Jacky Rodriquez, Mel Hunt, Marsha Heidt, Amelia Cutten, Rita Montserrat Medina-Bahena, Shoshana Perrey. Not pictured but sworn in: Pam Kotler.
There is a great need for bilingual and male volunteers, and people from all cultures and professions and of all ethnic and educational backgrounds are invited to learn more.
Here are the dates of informational sessions for community members to learn about getting involved with CASA:
- Tuesday, March 10: 6 p.m. at Live Oak Family Resource Center, 1740 17thAve., Santa Cruz.
- Saturday, March 14: 10 a.m. at CASA, 813 Freedom Blvd.,Watsonville.
- Wednesday, March 18: 5:30 p.m. at CASA, 813 Freedom Blvd., Watsonville.
- Thursday, March 26: 2 p.m. at Staff of Life, 1266 Soquel Ave.,Santa Cruz
- Friday, March 27: noon at California Coffee, 9105 Soquel Drive, Aptos.
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For information on how to become a CASA volunteer advocate, contact CASA Outreach Coordinator, Cita Rasul, at 831-761-2956, ext. 102, or visit www.casaofsantacruz.org.
