Six new Court Appointed Special Advocates, who will look after the best interests of children in the Jennings County court system, were sworn in recently.
Tony Eder, Deborah Copley, Audrey Easler, Tom Taylor, Jerry Shepherd Jr. and Daniel Struck are volunteers in the program administered by Advocates for Children.
CASA volunteers work on cases involving the victims of child abuse and neglect and work to make sure that the best interest of these children is always the top priority facing the court. Recent spikes in the number of cases of heroin and methamphetamine abuse by parents in the region have led to record numbers of children entering the protection system, Advocates for Children said in a news release.
Advocates for Children faces a waiting list of more than 100 children.
“These volunteers make a world of difference for the children they serve,” said Therese Miller, the program’s executive director. “They help to fulfill the promise that every child deserves a safe and loving home in which to thrive. If it weren’t for our CASA volunteers, many of these cases could stretch on, with vital details being overlooked.”
According to the National CASA Association, a child with a CASA volunteer is more likely to find a permanent home, more likely to succeed in school and half as likely to re-enter the foster care system, Advocates for Children said in the news release.
Advocates for Children is a nonprofit organization that provides CASA volunteers for children in Bartholomew, Decatur and Jennings counties.
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Individuals interested in learning more about the agency can go online at apowerfulvoice.org, or call the office at (877) 604-9402.
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