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THE DALLES — Six new Columbia Gorge CASA’s (Court Appointed Special Advocates for children) were sworn in by Judge Marion Weatherford in The Dalles on June 25: Tony Ackerman, Sara Crook, Kristin Daly, Alison Knivila, Dan McNertheny, and Steve Schmidt.
Each will 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,” said a CASA press release.
Weatherford stressed to the new advocates the value of the work they will be doing during the ceremony. “The CASA is in the courtroom speaking only on behalf of the best interests of the child,” Weatherford said. “The report submitted to me by CASA is an important piece of my decision in every case which has a CASA.”
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.
CASA training consists of 35 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.
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