Pictured are Connie Buttaccio, Mary Bonnofsky, Sherry Bryant, Liz Gifford, Kathy Watson, Sally Worthy and Stuart Watson, all new child advocates at Columbia Gorge CASA.
Photo courtesy Christopher JanetzkoHOOD RIVER — Columbia Gorge CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) has sworn in seven new volunteer advocates, further bolstering their commitment to advocating for children in the foster care system.
The swearing-in ceremony, presided over by Judge Marion Weatherford, took place recently at the Wasco County Court House.
Leah Campbell, program coordinator at Columbia Gorge CASA, is enthusiastic about the new additions.
“Our most recent class saw seven new advocates being sworn in,” said Campbell. “Every class offers a wealth of life experiences and perspectives, and this one was no different. We’re excited to see these new folks join cases, especially right now when we have so many kids in need of a CASA.”
One of the newly sworn-in volunteers, Sherry Bryant, shared her motivation for joining CASA, saying “I’ve always wanted to help children; that’s really important to me. I thought CASA was an avenue I could pursue and hopefully have something to offer to kids and families, not the least of which being my experience with the court system and my family experience. I felt like I had something to offer, so I wanted to do that.”
Weatherford, who administered the oath of office, highlighted the importance of volunteer advocates in the courtroom and the unique voice they provide in advocating for children. Weatherford also took time to meet with the volunteers in a training session prior to the swearing-in ceremony.
CASA volunteers undergo extensive training to advocate effectively for children who have experienced abuse or neglect and are navigating the complexities of the foster care system. They play a crucial role in providing stability and advocating for the best interests of the children for whom they are court appointed to advocate.
Columbia Gorge CASA next training for new volunteer advocates will be in the fall. Visit gorgecasa.org to learn more about the program and how to become a volunteer advocate for a child. Columbia Gorge CASA is partially funded with grants from the State of Oregon, United Way of the Columbia Gorge, Ford Family Foundation, Roundhouse Foundation, Oregon Community Foundation, Healy Foundation, and the James and Shirley Rippey Family Foundation.
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