Six community members sworn in as Madison County’s first class of CASA volunteers
Judge describes swearing in as a “landmark day” for court, community and children in need
The first class of community members were officially sworn in Thursday as Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers, to serve the CASA of Madison County program.
Accompanied by applause from loved ones and supporters, the six volunteers were recognized at the Madison County Courthouse in London by Madison County Judge Christopher J. Brown.
The volunteers will soon serve local children in need.
“I wanted to make a difference in their lives somehow, and I’m not foster parent material because of my work schedule,” said Carolyn Anderson, who was sworn in as a CASA volunteer. “Find out about us. I think the rewards will outweigh the difficulties. It has been a wonderful experience, it really has.”
Judge Brown thanked the group for their dedication and interest, describing their upcoming work as a “wonderful endeavor,” and one that is “needed in our county.”
The CASA program of Madison County officially launched in late 2023, and staff began sharing information about CASA with the community.
“This has been an incredible journey, from helping to launch this program in Madison County, to the swearing in of these volunteers,” said CASA of Madison County Director Brianna Britton. “I am honored to be a part of this community and to get to work with these volunteers.”
Britton thanked the volunteers and their families. The six community members completed 33 hours of pre-service training and court observations over six weeks.
“Training was really good because we had a lot of people from different backgrounds, so we got to hear each other’s opinions and questions…so it brought up a lot of different bits of information,” said Austin Hill, who was sworn in as a CASA volunteer. “Even just the training makes you more aware of what families go through on a daily basis and some of the struggles kids have.”
In Ohio, CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to advocate for children experiencing abuse and neglect.
They not only complete detailed training before getting a case, but volunteers also complete 12 hours of continued education every year. Volunteers receive continued support from their county program and Ohio CASA.
“The Ohio CASA Network welcomes and congratulates this newest group of CASA volunteers. We look forward to continued connections with these volunteers and the CASA of Madison County program,” said Ohio CASA Executive Director Doug Stephens. “This latest swearing in continues to demonstrate that partnerships with the court and community are essential to this work.”
There are currently 47 CASA programs serving children in 60 Ohio counties.
If you are interested in becoming a CASA volunteer in Madison County, you can learn more here ahead of the program’s next training.
There are CASA volunteer opportunities across Ohio.
