CASA volunteer training to begin soon

Editor's note: The following story was edited from its original version to fix several errors.

Training sessions will soon begin for Court Appointed Special Advocates of Southeast Missouri, a not-for-profit organization that provides volunteers to work with children in Southeast Missouri. A CASA volunteer represents the case of an abused or neglected child.

Sessions will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays from Jan. 26 through Feb. 25. One Saturday class will be held from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Feb. 6.

The training covers juvenile court processes, child development, effects of child abuse and community resources. All materials are provided and the training is free. After the training, a volunteer can start work and will get his or her first case.

A CASA volunteer serves as a voice and an advocate for abused and neglected children.

The volunteers are sworn in by the judge and become officers of the court, said Linda Nash, the CASA executive director of Cape Girardeau.

After a child is neglected or abused, a juvenile court has to decide about the child's future without having detailed information about the circumstances from the child. In this situation, a CASA volunteer steps in to supplement the information available to the court. A volunteer's tasks include thorough investigation. The volunteer is researcher, monitor and child advocate, reviewing relevant documents and interviewing the child, parents, social workers and teachers.

Nash said the volunteer meets with the child at least once a month.

Short- and long-term

"The volunteer's work can be a short-term situation or can last for a number of years," said Nash.

The CASA program typically helps children up to age 18. CASA of Southeast Missouri serves children living in the 32nd Judicial District, which is Cape Girardeau, Bollinger and Perry counties.

CASA of Southeast Missouri began in 1991. It provided two training sessions in 2009, adding 11 new volunteers. Altogether, CASA of Southeast Missouri had 51 volunteers in 2009. In 2010 Nash said she has planned three training sessions and thinks she will get at least five new volunteers by the end of February.

Volunteers range in age from people in their 20s up to their 70s.

A volunteer must be at least 21 and has to go through an initial interviewing process and a criminal record check to ensure safety to the children. The volunteer should make a commitment to serve CASA for a minimum of one year and be mature, respectful, honest, professional and objective, Nash said.

After the initial involvement, volunteers work roughly five hours a month or less.

Interested people can call the CASA office in Cape Girardeau at 335-1726 or visit www.capecasa.com.