CASA for Kids: 'Veronica'

A CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteer is needed to serve as an advocate for 13-year-old “Veronica.”

The Department of Child Safety (DCS) removed “Veronica” from her mother’s care because of allegations of neglect and substance abuse. The mother is not ensuring that the child is receiving proper and effective care. The mother often leaves the child home alone for days at a time, with no food or supervision. There are no relatives available to care for the child, so she has been placed in the home of a family friend.

Among the CASA volunteer’s responsibilities:

Monitoring the child’s progress in the current placement; working with her case manager and other specialists to ensure that the child receives the appropriate services, such as, educational, medical and therapeutic care, as well as, making recommendations to the court about a permanent outcome for her.

Are you willing to give approximately 15 to 20 hours per month to advocate for an abused or neglected child in our community?

No experience is necessary, and comprehensive training is provided at no cost to the volunteer advocate.

Once certification and training are complete, CASA volunteers spend time learning about the child and their needs, gather information about the child’s circumstances, advocate for services for the child, and provide information to the court about what is in the child’s best interest.

If you are interested in becoming a CASA volunteer and making a difference in the life of an abused or neglected child, please contact the CASA office at 928-771-3165.

EDITOR’S NOTE — This child’s name has been changed to protect the identities of those involved, and these children are not eligible for adoption at this time.