By BETH CHAPMAN / Guest Columnist

Volunteers are needed now to help abused and neglected children in Shelby County, and the Court Appointed Special Advocates organization is looking for them.

CASA is a non-profit organization that recruits and trains volunteers to go through the court process with abused and neglected children. They work hard to prevent further abuse and to ensure that every child has a safe and permanent home.

Volunteer training classes will begin Jan. 26 on Tuesday evenings from 5-8 in Pelham at the University of Montevallo located at 2790 Pelham Parkway. A light meal will be provided for all in-class sessions.

“You don’t need a college degree or years of experience to help these children,” said CASA Volunteer Director, Jill Driver. “You just need to have a caring and compassionate heart and be willing to complete the 30-hour training program we provide. We will teach you what you need to know.”

After the training program, CASA volunteers are sworn in by Judge Jim Kramer and become official officers of the court. They receive court orders and are trained to ensure that they are followed. They visit with the children, interview their teachers and others of importance in their lives and even write court reports for the judge to review in their case.

“Judge Kramer can only make as good of a decision as the information we put in front of him,” said Driver. “That is the work of a CASA Volunteer, to provide good information to the court, and to advocate and represent the best interests of these abused and neglected children.”

For more information about CASA of Shelby County, visit Casaofshelbycounty.org, or call 243-8753.

 

Beth Chapman is the former Alabama Secretary of State, and is the volunteer director with CASA.