CASA seeks volunteers for local children

TIFFIN — Forty-one Seneca County children involved in abuse and neglect cases have a volunteer advocate speaking for them in juvenile court, and none are currently going without one. Keeping it that way is the reason CASA of Seneca, Sandusky and Wyandot Counties is holding a volunteer orientation next month. The program will host a Volunteer Training Orientation at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, at its office at 21 Court St. in Tiffin. Staff will explain what volunteers do, walk through the training and help those interested schedule the five required classes. Court Appointed Special Advocates are trained community members appointed by a judge to advocate for the best interests of children who have entered the juvenile court system because of abuse or neglect. "We want people to come to orientation with their questions, even if they aren't sure yet whether becoming a CASA is right for them," said Michelle Hess, assistant director of CASA of Seneca, Sandusky and Wyandot Counties. "This is an opportunity to learn more, meet our team, and discover how your time and experience could make a difference in a child's life." The numbers Twenty-three volunteers are currently serving those 41 Seneca County children, Hess told the Advertiser-Tribune. Across all three counties, the program has 65 volunteers, 33 of them sworn in for Seneca County. The program swore in five new volunteers this spring. Another five to eight would be ideal, Hess said, largely because of turnover. "Like any volunteer organization, retention can be a challenge," she said. "Our volunteers have jobs, families and other responsibilities, and sometimes life circumstances change." The program typically loses about as many volunteers each year as it gains, she said, most often to relocation, health issues or family changes. That churn is why recruitment doesn't stop even when every child has an advocate. Caseloads spiked after the pandemic, Hess said, driven by financial and mental health stressors on families. Numbers have leveled off over the last two years. What volunteers actually do The heart of the role is getting to know a child and making sure the child's voice reaches the judge, Hess said. Volunteers visit regularly with the child, talk with parents, caregivers, teachers, therapists and caseworkers, and review records and reports. They then give the judge an objective account of how the child is doing and what they believe is in the child's best interest. That can include written court reports and, when needed, testimony. Volunteers do not make decisions for the child and do not serve as a therapist or caseworker, Hess said. They are a consistent adult presence through a case that typically lasts about a year. "The goal is to make sure the child doesn't get lost in the system," she said. The time commitment is heaviest early. Volunteers average eight to 10 hours a month during the first three months, when most of the investigative work happens, then about five hours a month after that. Training and requirements Training runs 30 hours across five sessions, typically one three-hour class a week with online reading in between. Classes are scheduled around the availability of everyone who attends orientation. "We don't want there to be any barriers for someone to complete the training," Hess said. Volunteers must be at least 21, pass a background check the program provides, complete the training and have reliable transportation. Staff work with volunteers to match them to a case that fits their schedule. Volunteers are not required to serve in the county where they live, and because the program covers three counties, a volunteer can be sworn in for more than one. Attending the September orientation is not required to take the training. The program offers training twice a year, and the next session after this one begins in April 2027. Does it work A 2023 independent evaluation by the Ohio Colleges of Medicine Government Resource Center at The Ohio State University examined outcomes for Ohio children who were assigned a CASA volunteer. Ohio CASA/GAL commissioned the study in partnership with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and the Ohio Department of Medicaid. Comparing children within the same counties, researchers found that those assigned a volunteer advocate spent less time in out-of-home placements, were less likely to return to one after being discharged, and were more likely to be reunified with family or placed permanently. CASA of Seneca, Sandusky and Wyandot Counties is an independent nonprofit funded through county support, individual donors, local and federal grants, and fundraising. Hess said support is healthy across all four sources, though the program continues to look for ways to diversify. For more information, visit casaofssw.org or call 419-448-1442.