CASAs say experience is invaluable
NORWICH – After five months on the job, a special group of volunteers with the county’s Dispute Resolution Center say their new roles in the community have paid them an invaluable wage.
Volunteering as Court Appointed Special Advocates – a new program that officially began in June – the first crew of appointees have been charged with taking an in-depth look into dispute-related court cases, and advocating for the best interests of the children who are involved.
“To make a profound difference in a child’s life,” said CASA Laura Mandell, “it’s indescribable.”
Since June, the CASAs have handled 9 cases, five in Chenango and four in Otsego County, with roughly 13 neglected children assigned to different advocates so far.
“The impact is happening,” said Rita Maxwell, the CASA coordinator at the dispute center. “The full impact has yet to be felt.”
Once assigned a case, CASAs are required to review court records, research information, and interview the children, parents, attorneys, judges, social workers, teachers, and other family members. In each case the advocate will submit official testimony and an opinion to the court regarding the welfare of the child, and what they believe would be in their best interests.
“There is no normal day,” Mandell said, explaining that the number of people CASAs work with day-in and day-out makes for an extraordinary volunteer experience. “It’s a real concerted effort of people.”
Maxwell said that feedback from the courts so far have said that typically longer cases are processing quicker with the volunteers’ involvement. “Things were taking a longer time to happen,” said Maxwell. “CASAs have forced things before the courts quicker.”
County and Family Court Judge Howard Sullivan said the program is still developing, but based on what he’s seen so far, he expects it to be of great value to the community over the long-term.
“It’s made a positive impact so far,” Sullivan said. “Long-term it’s going to be a great service that will be a helpful aid to children, families, judges, lawyers and law-guardians. It has started off the way I thought it would.”
CASA June Georgia said she didn’t know what to expect when she enrolled in the program, but believes now her objective is quite clear.
“I feel like I’m the eyes and ears, and I give the cases an unbiased look that some might not be able to do,” Georgia said. “If we do anything – just to help one child, to me, it’s working.”
Maxwell said one of the biggest impacts they’ve been able to gauge has been the CASAs’ ability to open up lines of communication between conflicted family members.
“They’re allowing for communication between families where it wasn’t happening before,” Maxwell said. “They’re helping people feel like they can solve their own problems.”
Volunteer Martha McCall said that CASAs also act as catalysts for the parents in question to learn how to be better parents, when possible.
“Some of the parents don’t neglect their children, they just don’t know how to be good parents,” McCall said. “They just need guidance.”
The program was launched through Catholic Charities and the Dispute Resolution Centers of Chenango and Otsego counties, located in Norwich. The six current advocates underwent 35 hours of training, participated in numerous observations, conducted a case study, underwent several interviews, and completed a full court report prior to being appointed. The next training session for a new group of CASAs is set to begin this spring.
Mandell said the extensive training and personal time spent in courtrooms has been well worth it.
“There is a feeling you get from volunteering in the community,” she said. “This is beyond that.”
Georgia said that the experience is definitely challenging, but in a good way.
“You feel like you have to prove yourself,” she said. “It’s really just making sure no stone goes unturned.”
For Maxwell, the first go-around of the CASA program couldn’t have gone better.
“They have made a tremendous commitment,” she said. “Without them the program couldn’t exist, and work as well as it has. And yet they’ve told me, ‘It’s invaluable how we’re being repaid.”
If interested in the CASA program or information on other services, contact the Dispute Resolution Center at 336-1981.
Volunteering as Court Appointed Special Advocates – a new program that officially began in June – the first crew of appointees have been charged with taking an in-depth look into dispute-related court cases, and advocating for the best interests of the children who are involved.
“To make a profound difference in a child’s life,” said CASA Laura Mandell, “it’s indescribable.”
Since June, the CASAs have handled 9 cases, five in Chenango and four in Otsego County, with roughly 13 neglected children assigned to different advocates so far.
“The impact is happening,” said Rita Maxwell, the CASA coordinator at the dispute center. “The full impact has yet to be felt.”
Once assigned a case, CASAs are required to review court records, research information, and interview the children, parents, attorneys, judges, social workers, teachers, and other family members. In each case the advocate will submit official testimony and an opinion to the court regarding the welfare of the child, and what they believe would be in their best interests.
“There is no normal day,” Mandell said, explaining that the number of people CASAs work with day-in and day-out makes for an extraordinary volunteer experience. “It’s a real concerted effort of people.”
Maxwell said that feedback from the courts so far have said that typically longer cases are processing quicker with the volunteers’ involvement. “Things were taking a longer time to happen,” said Maxwell. “CASAs have forced things before the courts quicker.”
County and Family Court Judge Howard Sullivan said the program is still developing, but based on what he’s seen so far, he expects it to be of great value to the community over the long-term.
“It’s made a positive impact so far,” Sullivan said. “Long-term it’s going to be a great service that will be a helpful aid to children, families, judges, lawyers and law-guardians. It has started off the way I thought it would.”
CASA June Georgia said she didn’t know what to expect when she enrolled in the program, but believes now her objective is quite clear.
“I feel like I’m the eyes and ears, and I give the cases an unbiased look that some might not be able to do,” Georgia said. “If we do anything – just to help one child, to me, it’s working.”
Maxwell said one of the biggest impacts they’ve been able to gauge has been the CASAs’ ability to open up lines of communication between conflicted family members.
“They’re allowing for communication between families where it wasn’t happening before,” Maxwell said. “They’re helping people feel like they can solve their own problems.”
Volunteer Martha McCall said that CASAs also act as catalysts for the parents in question to learn how to be better parents, when possible.
“Some of the parents don’t neglect their children, they just don’t know how to be good parents,” McCall said. “They just need guidance.”
The program was launched through Catholic Charities and the Dispute Resolution Centers of Chenango and Otsego counties, located in Norwich. The six current advocates underwent 35 hours of training, participated in numerous observations, conducted a case study, underwent several interviews, and completed a full court report prior to being appointed. The next training session for a new group of CASAs is set to begin this spring.
Mandell said the extensive training and personal time spent in courtrooms has been well worth it.
“There is a feeling you get from volunteering in the community,” she said. “This is beyond that.”
Georgia said that the experience is definitely challenging, but in a good way.
“You feel like you have to prove yourself,” she said. “It’s really just making sure no stone goes unturned.”
For Maxwell, the first go-around of the CASA program couldn’t have gone better.
“They have made a tremendous commitment,” she said. “Without them the program couldn’t exist, and work as well as it has. And yet they’ve told me, ‘It’s invaluable how we’re being repaid.”
If interested in the CASA program or information on other services, contact the Dispute Resolution Center at 336-1981.
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