The Cumberland County CASA Program was recently awarded certification by the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association recognizing that The Cumberland County CASA Program is in compliance with National CASA’s high standards for quality child advocacy. According to Michael Piraino, CEO of the National CASA Association, “The National CASA quality assurance process is very rigorous, and reflects our commitment to ensure every child we serve has the most powerful volunteer advocate working on their behalf. This certification says that The Cumberland County CASA Program has demonstrated to us a strong capacity to provide excellent services to the abused and neglected children within their community.”
The CASA Program in Cumberland County was started in 2000. Since that time, 182 CASA volunteers have been trained and have represented more than 380 dependent children whose cases are in the court system. The Honorable Edward E. Guido, who championed the start-up of the CASA Program in Cumberland County, refers to CASA volunteers as “the eyes and the ears of the Court,” helping judges make better informed decisions for the futures of the child victims of abuse and/or neglect.
Becoming a CASA volunteer
Although CASA volunteers come from all walks of life, it is not for everyone. “Ordinary citizens” interested in becoming a CASA volunteer must successfully complete a thorough screening process that includes an 8-page CASA volunteer application, a 2 hour interview with CASA staff, 40 hours of training, passing multiple background checks, and taking an Oath of Office. Investigating, facilitating, monitoring and advocating on behalf of the one child/sibling group a CASA volunteer is appointed to can be challenging work but volunteers continue to come forward because of their desire to be the voice for a child. Although they may interview and collaborate with case workers, service providers, foster parents, educators, therapists, and anyone else who can offer insights into what might serve in the child’s best interest, CASA volunteers offer their time and their hearts for no pay.
Children who are adjudicated as “dependent” (i.e., without proper parental care and control) are often involved in the Court system for at least an 18 to 24 month period of time. For that reason, trained CASA volunteers are prepared to commit to at least 18 months of advocating for a child, until the Court believes the child has found a safe, permanent home, either by being returned to their home or, through another permanent resolution like adoption. In 2013, over 700 CASA volunteers throughout Pennsylvania represented the best interests of over 1700 children.
About the National CASA Association
In 1976, concerned over making decisions about abused and neglected children's lives without sufficient information, a Seattle judge conceived the idea of using trained community volunteers to speak for the best interests of these children in court, helping to ensure that they will live in a safe and loving environment. So successful was this Seattle program, that soon judges across the country began utilizing citizen advocates. In 1990, the U.S. Congress encouraged the expansion of CASA/GAL with passage of the Victims of Child Abuse Act. Today, there are more than 950 National CASA member programs across the country, with more than 70,000 men and women serving as CASA or Guardian ad Litem volunteers.