Heartland CASA and Kemmerer Village are joining forces in the effort to recruit more court-appointed special advocates, as the acronym stands for. Heartland CASA works to provide support and guidance to children in the foster care and child welfare system. The Assumption-based Presbyterian child-care agency will host trainings for interested volunteers. The move comes as local demand for advocates is far outpacing availability.
One training series will take place Mondays during the day starting July 27. The other is set for Wednesday nights starting July 29. Each series lasts six weeks. Lori McDaniel, recruitment and retention manager for Heartland CASA, says the collaboration was inspired by a Kemmerer Village employee taking the training.
Schäles Nagle, Kemmerer Village’s executive director, says the similarities in the two organizations’ missions played a notable role in their working together.
Blaine Smith, Heartland CASA’s executive director, says new volunteer advocates could streamline cases for any of the over 250 children awaiting an advocate.
McDaniel says the trainings cover all steps in the legal process, with the goal of ensuring prospective advocates know what to expect.
Amid the collaboration, the organizations’ leaders call for the community to play its part to help children in need of support.
More information on Heartland CASA is available at www.maconcountycasa.org.
Lori McDaniel, Schäles Nagle, and Blaine Smith appeared as guests on the WTIM Pana Morning Show.
