Court Appointed Special Advocates

News

Friday, 31 January 2020 16:38

A community can come together to make a positive impact for children, and nothing can be any greater than advocating for abused, neglected and abandoned children in court in Jackson County. More than 14,000 of Alabama’s most vulnerable children are attending court hearings, adjusting to new homes and school every day. In 2018, 195 dependency petitions were filed in Jackson County. These children should not have to do it alone. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of North Sand Mountain provides these services for Jackson County children every day, and they want the community to know they are here, and more importantly, why they are here. CASA volunteers are trained to advocate for the best interests of these children. Essentially CASA’s or Court Appointed Special Advocates are the eyes and ears of the court. To be an advocate for the best interest of children you must be:

•  At least 21 years of age
• Pass annual criminal background checks
• Use good verbal and written communication skills
• Be objective and non-judgmental
• Be available to attend court hearings
• Make a commitment to the CASA program for at least one year or until permanency is achieved

CASA volunteers are willing to make a powerful and positive impact in a child’s life. There is a formal 30-hour training program, some in-class and part independent study that is designed to empower and equip you to serve.  If approved and once trained, volunteer advocates are sworn in by a judge and qualified to be assigned a case by the court. Every volunteer has support from the Advocate Coordinator, Cia Dempsey and Executive Director Kelly Klein. This program is not possible without the help of a community. Court Appointed Special Advocates operate under a non-profit volunteer-based program, advocating for the best interests of children. The mission is to provide a dedicated CASA volunteer to every abused, neglected or abandoned child in Jackson County, give them a voice and help them thrive in a safe and loving home in the shortest amount of time possible. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to this program, those can be mailed to CASA of North Sand Mountain, 304 South Market Street, Suite 200, Scottsboro, Ala. 35768. For more information call Kelly at 205-478-8389. Volunteer applications are also found at al-northsandmtn.evintosolutions.com/VolunteerApplication.