TOLEDO, Feb. 16, 2024: The Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Department of the Lucas County Juvenile Court announces the graduation of a new class of CASA/GAL (Court Appointed Special Advocates/Guardians ad Litem). Juvenile Court Judge Linda Knepp were swear in 21 new CASA volunteers as officers of the court to serve as the guardian ad litem and to represent the best interests of abused and neglected children who have been removed from their homes because of an imminent risk of harm.
CASA volunteers are ordinary citizens from all walks of life with a variety of educational, racial, and ethnic backgrounds who are trained by the Juvenile Court to advocate for Lucas County’s abused and neglected children. The CASA volunteer does an independent investigation by interviewing the children, parents, relatives, school officials, doctors, and others involved in the children’s lives who may have facts about the case or the children’s safety and well-being. The CASA volunteer remains on the case making recommendations to the Juvenile Court and advocating for the child until the children are reunified with their parents or a safe, permanent home is found for each child.
This talented class includes a business owner, two members working in the disability field, several attorneys, a government employee, a realtor, a human resources specialist, two social workers, two educators, and a retired neurosurgeon, among others. The class will be sworn in on Friday, February 16, 2024, at noon.
New CASA volunteers are greatly needed. The next training class will take place in June 2024, and applications are currently being accepted. For more information on becoming a volunteer advocate, visit the CASA website at www.casakids.net.