AUGUSTA — Interested in speaking up for a Maine foster child? The Maine Court Appointed Special Advocates program is holding its summer training for volunteer advocates Aug. 12-15 in the Augusta area.
The four-day training is free. Attendees learn about all aspects of child advocacy work in order to be certified as a volunteer guardian ad litem for the Maine District Court.
Maine CASAs are community volunteers who are appointed to serve as guardians ad litem for children whose parents are involved in a child protection court case. CASAs conduct an investigation, and then advise the judge in writing of what they believe is in the child’s best interest. The foundation of the CASA’s work is listening to and letting the judge know what the child wishes, according to Maine CASA Program Manager Libby McCullum, and Maine CASAs excel in that area.
CASAs come from a wide variety of professional and personal backgrounds and are guided throughout the process by staff attorneys. CASAs each bring a unique perspective from their own life and community to their work as a volunteer.
Last year, nearly 400 children involved in a child protection court case had a volunteer CASA who served as the child’s voice in court. Right now, there are more foster children than CASA volunteers. CASAs do not need any special training to apply other than having a high school diploma or GED equivalent and be over 21. Along with the application, three references must be provided and a background check completed, which includes disclosing any criminal or child protection history.
Find out more about the Maine CASA Program by visiting www.casaofmaine.org or on Facebook at Maine CASA.
For more information about becoming a volunteer, contact Maine CASA Program Volunteer Coordinator Tracy Leigh at 287-5829 or tracy.leigh@courts.maine.gov.
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