PHOENIX – CASA of Maricopa County and Voices for CASA Children have partnered together this year to recruit at least 250 new CASA volunteers to provide a voice for abused and neglected children in Arizona state dependency. With more than 13,000 children in foster care in Maricopa County and less than 600 advocates each typically serving one child at a time, the need for concerned citizens to step forward is crucial.
For those who would like to learn more, an information session is being held from 5 – 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 20, at Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West, located at 3830 N. Marshall Way, Scottsdale, AZ 85251. To attend this special event, please complete the registration form on Eventbrite by Friday, October 14. To click and register visit http://www.voicesforcasachildren.org/events/becomeachildadvocate/.
At this information session, attendees will be able to get their questions answered by program staff, meet current CASA volunteers and even tour Western Spirit, Arizona’s new must-see attraction. Scottsdale’s Museum of the West was voted “Best Western Art Museum in the Nation” by True West magazine for its “extraordinary exhibitions and dedication to Western art and culture”. Complimentary parking will be available.
Thursday, October 20
Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West
5 – 5:30 p.m. Light hors d’oeuvres
5:30 – 6 p.m. Presentation
6 – 7 p.m. Q&A / Museum tours
As an officer of the court, a CASA volunteer visits with the foster child and anyone involved in his or her life, from foster parents, to teachers and doctors. A Court Appointed Special Advocate serves as the eyes and ears of the judge and submits a report before each court hearing with recommendations about the child’s best interest. A CASA volunteer is often the most consistent person in a foster child’s life and is especially valuable because he or she typically focuses on one child or sibling group at a time.
Children with a CASA volunteer assigned to their case are more likely to receive services, spend less time in the child welfare system and are less likely to return to foster care. There are far too many children in care, putting continued burden on the child welfare system and creating an even greater need for volunteer advocates.
Visit http://www.voicesforcasachildren.org/events/becomeachildadvocate/ for more information.
