A volunteer program that matches trained adult advocates with abused and neglected children under the supervision of the Westmoreland County courts is growing.
Officials with the Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children program, or CASA, said Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani recently swore in 12 new volunteers to the program that now serves more than 200 children.
Officials hope to expand the Westmoreland CASA program, now in its 11th year, to serve 330 children as more support staff are hired.
New volunteers added to the program include: Ronel Baccus, Greensburg; Kathleen Baker, Saltsburg; Joyce Benson, Greensburg; Jackie Errett, North Huntingdon; Philomena Hanson, Greensburg; Judith Holtz, Pleasant Unity; Kacie King, Mt. Pleasant; Lisa Langton, Jeannette; Carol Mintus, Greensburg; Kate Sell, Murrysville; Candace Simek, Export; Tomisha Stevens, Greensburg; and Jackie Woody, Apollo.
CASA volunteers meet with their young charges regularly and assist the courts to ensure the child’s placement in a safe, permanent and nurturing home.
The Westmoreland County program is one of nearly 1,000 local CASA affiliates that grew out of a program launched in Washington state in 1977.
Additional information on the program is available at westmorelandcasa.org or 724-850-6874.
