CASA of Marathon County has officially sworn in its first class of volunteers to become Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASA, in Marathon County, the organization announced today.
The class of nine volunteers completed new advocate training during the last few months and were appointed by Judge Michael Moran.
“While our program was established in the fall, it feels like we’re officially underway now that the advocates have been appointed and will soon become the voice for Marathon County children in need,” said Christy Keele, executive director of CASA of Marathon County, in a news release.
CASA volunteers complete about 30 hours of training before being appointed by a judge and officially become an advocate. Once they’re an advocate, they are assigned to a child or family of children who find themselves in the court and child welfare system through no fault of their own, typically because of abuse or neglect. The advocate and child(ren) will spend about an hour a week together, getting to know each other. Advocates compile reports detailing this information which is shared with the judge overseeing the child(ren)’s case which helps inform their decision.
“Advocates come from all walks of life so the connections they form with the child(ren) they serve often last beyond the court case,” Keele said. “I’m so excited for this first class of advocates to begin their CASA journeys, serving children in need, however these individuals just scratch the surface of filling the need in Marathon County. We are actively recruiting more individuals to begin new advocate training this spring and I encourage anyone over 21 years old that are interested in learning more to reach out.”
CASA of Marathon County will offer advocate training beginning April 1. Contact Christy Keele, [email protected], to learn more and sign up. There is no cost for the required 30 hours of training to become a CASA advocate.
