CASA gives a voice to children who might otherwise go unheard
DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR
KINGSLAND — Whenever a child is removed from a home because of abuse or neglect, a group of dedicated volunteers is standing by to be his or her voice.
“Our role at CASA is to represent the best interest of the child in court during a very turbulent time in their lives,” said Galyn Woerner, advocate coordinator for CASA for the Highland Lakes Area.
As part of April being Child Abuse Prevention Month, each week The Picayune is highlighting an organization that works on behalf of children.
CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates. The advocate is a specially trained individual who becomes the child’s voice in court.
Often, after a child’s removal from his or her home because of neglect or abuse, he or she might move from a couple different foster homes or find their case handled by different judges or attorneys. The one constant, however, is his or her CASA volunteer.
The volunteer sees the child and his or her case through the entire legal process, officials said.
CASA volunteers undergo special training with a judge swearing them in at the completion of the process.
Woerner said there are two upcoming training classes forming: one in April and another in June. The April training class will take place in Lampasas, while the June program will be held in CASA’s Kingsland office, 1719 Ridgeview.
CASA for the Highland Lakes Area serves Blanco, Burnet, Lampasas, Llano and San Saba counties. Officials said there are more than 200 children in foster care in those counties because of abuse and neglect. And each child or family group gets a CASA volunteer.
“Volunteers make this all possible,” Woerner said.
But if a person doesn’t feel comfortable as an advocate or just doesn’t have the time, there are numerous other ways to support the organization’s mission.
“We’re starting a group called Friends of CASA,” Woerner said. “The goal of the Friends group is to support what we do. It could mean bringing dishes to an event or helping with the Gala or our 5K. It’s just a way for people to get involved and help these children.”
For more information on CASA for the Highland Lakes Area, call (325) 388-3440 or go to www.highlandlakescasa.com.
daniel@thepicayune.com