Yuma foster youth get new special advocates
20 Court Appointed Special Advocates, or better known as CASA’s, were sworn in on Saturday morning at the Juvenile Justice Center.
The new volunteers were sworn in by Presiding Juvenile Court Judge Kathryn Stocking-Tate.
Court Appointed Special Advocates are everyday people that serve and volunteer their time to the more than 240 children currently in foster care throughout Yuma County. They are appointed by a juvenile court judge to not only speak up for abused and neglected children, but they also ensure that they are housed in a safe, secure and permanent home.
“They give us invaluable information,” said Juvenile Court Judge Kathryn Stocking-Tate. “They give us another opinion as to how a case should be resolved and what we can do to help the family.”
The service that a CASA volunteer provides is so impactful that a child with a CASA volunteer tends to spend 20 percent less time in foster care, on average.
The special advocates are able to pin-point the services that are critical to the well-being of the child and are also four times more likely to find a permanent home. Sandy Garrison coordinates the volunteers that day-in and day-out bring the much-needed support to foster youth in Yuma.
“CASA volunteers are a constant for the child in a time of chaos,” said Sandy Garrison. “A child may have multiple social workers, attorneys, therapists and foster placements throughout the life of the case but only one CASA volunteer, which can make all the difference for the child’s future.”
Throughout the county there are over 87,000 highly trained volunteers placed in more than 1,000 communities. These trained volunteers advocate for the well-being of more than 280,00 children who have been neglected or abused.
Yuma County currently counts with 48 volunteer advocates working with only 92 children, leaving about 151 in need of the care and support of a CASA volunteer.
If you would like more information on CASA of Yuma County or to become a volunteer, visit www.casaofyumacounty.org or call 928-314-1830.
