THE DALLES — On June 25, six new Columbia Gorge CASA’s (Court Appointed Special Advocates for children) were sworn in by Judge Marion Weatherford in The Dalles. The six include Tony Ackerman, Sara Crook, Kristin Daly, Alison Knivila, Dan McNertheny, and Steve Schmidt.
These advocates will each be assigned as a full party to a case involving child abuse or neglect. They will meet and build a rapport with a child, speak to teachers, parents, and others involved in the child’s life, and submit a written report to the court. CASA training consists of thirty-five hours over six weeks and is a combination of in-person learning, court watches, and “homework” which is mainly collaborative sharing of ideas generated by the course work.
During the ceremony, Judge Weatherford stressed to the new advocates the value of the work they will be doing, saying, “The CASA is in the courtroom speaking only on behalf of the best interests of the child. The report submitted to me by CASA is an important piece of my decision in every case which has a CASA.”
Advocates have many reasons for taking the training, and Ackerman shared his reason, stating, “CASA is an essential and vital part of the lives of young children that are experiencing very difficult times. I decided to take the training in the hopes of helping a child find a safe and permanent home.”
These advocates will play a big role in their cases, but there are still 40 children in the Gorge who need a CASA. Columbia Gorge CASA serves children in Hood River, Sherman, and Wasco counties, and will begin a new volunteer training series in late September. If you would like to find out more and possibly sign up for a future CASA training, go to gorgecasa.org or email training@gorgecasa.org.
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