Volunteers Give Foster Children a Voice

CASA for Children of Essex County welcomed 13 new advocates as they were sworn in by Essex County Superior Court Judge Grimbergen on Tuesday, February 19, 2019. Friends and family gathered at the Wilentz Court Complex to see the volunteers take an oath promising to advocate for the best interests of children in foster care.

The newly appointed advocates join a community of over 200 volunteers from the community committed to giving foster children a voice in the court system. CASA volunteers act as an extra set of eyes and ears for family court judges and speak up for these children to ensure they receive the services and support they need, and that their time in care is as short as possible.

Of the 1,700 children in foster care within Essex County last year, nearly 600 were served by CASA. More volunteers are needed to work with over 1,100 youth who still need a CASA Advocate.

There are no prerequisites for becoming a CASA volunteer other than being at least 21 years of age, clearing an extensive background screening, and successfully completing 33 hours of training.

For more information about becoming an advocate or other ways to help the organization reach more foster youth, contact Jess at 973-622-4831 or jearl@casaessex.org.

Pictured from Left to Right: David Sotnick - Millburn; Sally Unsworth - South Orange; Laticia Watson – East Orange; Janet Schiller – Glen Ridge; Lee Wilson – Glen Ridge; Carol Ann Holland – West Orange; Jaimie Slosberg - Livingston; Julie Murphy - Livingston; Ivy Bernstein - Millburn; Stephanie Brown – West Orange; Dan Zaccardo - Livingston; Sharyn Taylor - Montclair; Tiffany Zapico – West Orange