Springfield Volunteer Sworn To Advocate For Union County Children In Foster Care

SPRINGFIELD, NJ — A Springfield local was sworn in to serve as extra eyes and ears for Family Court judges on cases involving abused, neglected or abandoned children currently in foster care.

Sharyn Perlstein of Springfield was sworn in by Union County Superior Court Judge Daniel R. Lindemann.

The new CASA volunteers completed 30 hours of training over six weeks. This marks the 30th training class since Court Appointed Special Advocates of Union County began in 2005.

A member of the nonprofit’s board participated, and each new advocate was provided a commemorative pin and certificate. During a celebratory luncheon that followed, advocates were matched to their new case.

Before starting that work, though, they observed court proceedings to see other CASA volunteers in action. Already, most are in the trenches, working their cases and making inroads for their assigned youth.

Cranford resident Nicole DellaVecchia, a member of Team 30, noted, “I just had my first court appearance for the girl I'm working with, and I’m really enjoying my experience as a CASA volunteer. You not only get the opportunity to give and help a child, but you learn a lot about yourself along the way. We tend to live only in our day-to- day experiences, forgetting there are kids living in our very own communities that need us. I'm honored to be involved with an organization whose mission is to help children and give them a voice!”

CASA volunteers have court-ordered access to all parties in a child’s life, including foster parents, doctors, caseworkers, therapists and teachers, and incorporate into court reports findings from these contacts as well as time spent with the youth. Volunteers advocate both in the community and court to ensure their youth’s needs are met and time in care is as short as possible.

There are 600 Union County children in foster care; CASA of Union County approximately one-quarter of those and its mission is to provide an advocate for every child that needs one.

The next training class kicks off Sept. 27 in Westfield. For details on that training class, or other ways to help stand up for foster children, contact Lisa at (908) 527-7048 or lporis@casaofunioncounty.org.

(Photo provided: Shown with CASA of Union County’s Interim Director Lori Morris, far left, is the newest graduating class of volunteer advocates, Team 30. From left are Vanessa Chivers, Summit; Susan Boykin, Scotch Plains; Cynthia Galligan, Summit; Linda Fuller, Berkeley Heights; Delores Perkins, Roselle; Caroline Parker, Elizabeth; Erica Sack, Summit; Sharyn Perlstein, Springfield; Kristin Sanborn, Summit; Anne Koons, Westfield; Nicole DellaVecchia, Cranford; Tracy Forsyth, Summit; Janice Fusaro, Westfield; Lorraine Loza, Kenilworth; and Bev Luehs and Ellen Moore, Summit. Not shown: Tawana Love of Linden, sworn in at a later date.)

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