Eight new CASA volunteers ready to advocate for kids

Judge Bain talks about what it means to take an oath during a virtual swearing-in ceremony on October 23.

October 23, 2020 (Colorado Springs, Colo.) Eight community volunteers were sworn in as officers of the court by Fourth Judicial District Court Chief Judge William Bain during a CASA of the Pikes Peak Region swearing-in ceremony over Zoom on Friday.

These volunteers are now ready to advocate for abused and neglected children in the Pikes Peak Region during their time in the child welfare system. Each volunteer will be assigned to an open Dependency & Neglect case so that they may speak up for and advocate for the child or children on that case.

Congratulations new advocates Shannon Bader, Kelly Benthem, Carol Breglio, Margarita Chavez, Sheila Dunn, Kyla Greenfield, Hannah Juniel, and Megan O’Connell.

The number of children coming into CASA’s program has doubled since the pandemic began, and more community volunteers are needed to ensure that these children are placed in safe and permanent homes as quickly as possible.

The swearing-in ceremony which took place today was the final step for the volunteers who recently completed a five-week online training course covering topics like trauma, resiliency, poverty, mental health, substance abuse, domestic violence, and the role of the CASA volunteer.

Eight new Court Appointed Special Advocates took the oath on Friday.

CASA’s next training class begins in mid-January and community members who are interested in becoming CASA volunteers should attend one of two upcoming information sessions, both taking place over Zoom:

  • Virtual “Dudes and Brews” Info Hour on Nov. 10 at 6:00 PM
  • Virtual Information Session on Dec. 2 at 2:00 PM

People can go here to sign up for an info session: https://www.casappr.org/volunteer/