There are abused and neglected children in the Pike County and Morgan County court systems waiting for a Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) volunteer. Pike County CASA and Morgan County CASA, programs of Advocacy Network for Children, are recruiting volunteers for an upcoming accelerated training.
Training will be held Friday, Nov. 5, and Saturday, Nov. 6, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 7, from 1 to 6 p.m. Training will conclude with court observation and swearing in of volunteers on a date not yet scheduled with the courts. Training will be held at the Pike County CASA office located in the Pittsfield United Methodist Church, 222 North Monroe Street in Pittsfield.
Interested individuals are asked to attend one of four informational meetings being held via Zoom Wednesdays, Oct. 6, 13, 20 and 27 at noon. The informational meetings should last no more than 30 minutes. The meeting ID and Zoom link is 834 2530 4004 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83425304004.
CASA volunteers are trained community volunteers appointed by a judge to speak up for abused or neglected children in the court system. Volunteers receive 30 hours of training prior to case assignment. Training includes courtroom procedures, working with social service agencies and the special needs of abused and neglected children. Training is free with training manuals and materials provided. Once trained, CASA volunteers work alongside attorneys and social workers from case inception to its completion. CASA volunteers come from all walks of life and no special experience is required. These trained volunteers will represent abused and neglected children in the Pike County and Morgan County court system.
For more information or to obtain an application, please call Karolina Anton at 217-617-6058 or email kanton@advonet.org for Pike County and Libby Gaige at 217.971-0531 or email lgaige@advonet.org for Morgan County. You can also visit the agency’s website at www.advonet.org.
