NEW CASA advocates Amie Baldy, left, Angela Michalek, Megan Kabriel, Susan Poor, Judge Karen Ostrye, Ellen Tannenbaum, Billie Curry, Michael O’Gorman, Wendy Vaday and Vicki Bebb.
Submitted photoColumbia Gorge CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) is now served by a new group of child advocates.
The CASA volunteers were sworn into duty by the Honorable Karen Ostrye on April 19 after 32 hours of training. They are Amie Baldy and Billie Curry; The Dalles, Megan Kabriel, Michael O’Gorman, Susan Poor and Wendy Vaday, White Salmon; and Vicki Bebb, Ellen Tannenbaum and Angela Michalek, Hood River.
Prior to leading the CASA oath, Judge Ostrye, a former CASA Board member, described a few of her life experiences and shared some of the aspects CASAs have brought to her courtroom in support of children.
CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to watch over and advocate for children in the foster care system; they make sure that children receive needed services, that timelines are met so that children don’t get lost in overburdened legal and social service systems, and that they are placed in permanent, loving homes as soon as possible. CASAs are in a unique position, as a legal party, to advocate for the best interests of children’s lives while in foster care. Judges rely on the comprehensive and informed information that is provided by CASA volunteers. CASAs have tremendous privilege and responsibility to have a positive impact in a child’s case.
Last year, more than 76,000 CASA volunteers helped more than 251,000 abused and neglected children find safe, permanent homes. CASA volunteers are everyday citizens who have undergone screening and training and independent research has demonstrated that children with a CASA/GAL volunteer are substantially less likely to spend time in long-term foster care and less likely to re-enter care.
Columbia Gorge CASA serves children in Hood River, Wasco and Sherman counties. Advocates serve children in care so that they might have the chance to live and develop in a safe, nurturing environment. Volunteers receive 32 hours of pre-service training using the National CASA Volunteer Training Curriculum. New advocate training sessions will begin in September 2017.
If you are interested in learning more about the CASA program, contact Susan Baldwin, volunteer manager, or Michelle Mayfield, training coordinator, at 541-386-3468.
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