Airmen help abused and neglected children

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman La'Shanette Garrett
  • 2d Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  Barksdale Airmen strive to make a difference in the lives of neglected and abused children by volunteering to be Court Appointed Special Advocates. 

CASAs are trained volunteers appointed by judges to advocate for the needs of children removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. This program is administered thru the Volunteers for Youth Justice an umbrella organization. 

CASA volunteers interview all parties in a child's case; including attorneys, caseworkers, teachers, parents, foster parents and other relevant individuals. Through observation and fact-finding, the CASA volunteer forms an opinion regarding the best interest of a child in foster care, and communicates this opinion in a written report to the court. They also provide recommendations to the judge relative to the goal of a safe, permanent home for the child. 

The process of becoming a volunteer is very simple according to Eileen Czerwinski, CASA program director. 

"All potential volunteers are required to submit a background check along with an application, partake in an interview with staff and submit three required reference checks before the program decides if they are a good fit with the CASA program," said Ms. Czerwinski. 

"Once a volunteer has submitted the required documentation and completes the interview, they then have to complete 30 hours of training, which 15 hours are scheduled in-house during five nights of training from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The other 15 hours can be completed on the individual's own time through homework assignments given with the training manual. They then are sworn-in by a judge. This is usually completed within a three-week period," she continued. 

CASA volunteers come from all walks of life; no special qualifications are required other than a desire to make a difference in the life of a child. 

"I think that as a nation we are blessed and I believe that it is our responsibility to give back to others in need any way we can," said Master Sgt. Anthony Pesson, 2d Security Forces Squadron and CASA volunteer. "You don't have to be in the military to be patriotic - the real patriot volunteers time and energy to help others in need."

"It is so vital for people to volunteer for this wonderful program," said Senior Airman Penny Holan, 2d SFS and CASA volunteer. "Children are being abused in such terrible ways everyday and it is our job and responsibility to protect and fight for these defenseless children." 

These victims of abuse, neglect and abandonment belong to no one as they sit silently waiting for the courts to decide their future. Become a CASA for children, a trained community volunteer appointed by a judge to speak up for abused and neglected children in court. 

For more information please contact Michelle Edwards at (318) 425-4413 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.