When it comes to working on the behalf of children in foster care, it helps to have an objective and trained pair of eyes - and heart. Here in Essex County CASA, which is an acronym for Court Appointed Special Advocates, is a volunteer-based organization that trains citizens to advocate children in foster care.
Recently, staff from CASA of Essex County sponsored an information night at the Nutley Public Library.
Their mission was to raise awareness not only about their vital organization but also to
share with residents what it takes to become a volunteer.
During the Nutley visit, residents learned what it means to become an advocate. Although this is a volunteer based system, rest assured: citizens committing to spending the time to work as advocated undergo solid training.
Carol Costello, director of volunteers for CASA in Essex County, said the first step, however, is to understand what it means to visit the children as a volunteer.
“We are independent, and we serve the visanges of the courts, across the U.S.,” explained Costello. “Our mission to support the children who are in foster care. Through citizen volunteers, we recruit train and supervise them. Their role is to be investigators on behalf of the courts and judges, and to make sure everything that the child needs while in foster care that has been ordered is complied with.”
Think of a volunteer for CASA of Essex County as the “child’s voice in court”.
Each and every advocate, after being trained, visits the child or children at home.
As per what it takes to become an approved and trained volunteer, it all starts with your commitment - and plenty of training.
Our requirements are that you are a functioning adult, 21 and over; have made your way in the world - have an income, and we hope for experience in family or have interfaced with world, and have housing stability,” noted Costello. “Our volunteers also need to be articulate in understanding and advocating for the children. They need to
provide 3 references; two professional and one personal, and must pass background checks that are multi layered by the Essex County Sheriff’s department.”
Training is offered in eleven sessions of 3 hours each, with 33 hours to start. Then, annually, there are an additional 10 hours required in training in these services.
“The idea is that we prepare you to understand how the children's court process works,” said Costello. “You are the asset for the judge.”
Currently ,there are 2200 foster children in the system in Essex County. Casa served 550 in 2014 and expects to serve 562 in 2015.
“Our goal is to recruit another few hundred advocates,” said Costello. “They stay for a long time, for 2 1/2 years and then they need to be replaced. A case stays open for 2 1/2 or 3 years.”
Advocates are assigned to one family, and visit them once a month. But, it sometimes means they go to separate locations, since families do not always keep siblings together. And, in certain cases, advocates visit twice a month.
There are case workers who review the information from each advocate, which means each case worker at this point handle numerous cases and children.
Although CASA of Essex County asks each volunteer for a one year commitment, many stay much longer.
“Volunteers get an intrinsic satisfaction from this,” added Costello. “If you are looking for a (chance to become a ) meaningful volunteer, this is a good fit. This will change a child’s life and what you report as an independent non-biased person not representing a point of view in particular, and as an independent observer is meaningful.”
To learn more, contact Rakeem Mose, director, at 973-622-4831 or Carol Costello at 973-622-4832.
Since CASA visits numerous town in Essex County to search for volunteers, you can also visit their next information session at the Caldwell Public Library on January 29.
