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More than 500 children have entered the foster care system in our community because they’ve experienced abuse or neglect and are waiting for someone like you to speak up for their best interests.

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Luzerne County seeks to provide a qualified and compassionate volunteer advocate to every abused or neglected child in Luzerne County to ensure their right to a safe, nurturing, and permanent home is met. With a CASA advocate, children are more likely to adjust to change and to find a safe, permanent home.

CASA is not your typical volunteer role. But we’re not looking for typical volunteers.

“[I] wish that more people in the community knew how many children are waiting for adults who will take the time to get to know them, to care about what happens to them, and to advocate in their best interests within a complicated system,” said CASA advocate Diane Dreier.

Advocating requires a commitment, but it’s more than doable if you’re willing to do it.

CASA recruits and trains advocates who assist the court in considering what is in the child’s best interest. A judge appoints a CASA advocate to only one case and one child or sibling group enabling our advocate to commit to the child for as long as the judge keeps the case open.

The advocate works as a team with other court and social agency personnel and gathers information from every person that touches the child’s life – biological parents, foster parents, teachers, counselors and others. Based on his or her efforts, the volunteer then provides the court a report with critical information on the child’s well-being, including recommendations as to how to address the child’s needs.

Children in foster care who have a CASA advocate are more likely to succeed in school and adjust to change. And they’re half as likely to re-enter the foster care system later.

So as an advocate, you truly can make all the difference for a child who has experienced abuse or neglect in our community.

CASA seeks adult volunteers from all walks of life and all ages. Those who have participated can speak to how the experiences changed the children — and themselves.

“I was sure I wanted to be in a position that positively impacts the lives of children,” CASA Program Director Brennan Morell said.

“If you love children and want to do something useful to help, this is for you,” volunteer Doralyn Moody said.

“Those young ones taught me a lot about resilience,” CASA advocate Maureen Harkins recalled of her experience.

Speaking of resilience, the need for advocates has only continued to grow during the Coronavirus pandemic, and CASA has adapted to meet that challenge: Its most recent group of new recruits were trained virtually — and sworn in virtually, through a Zoom gathering.

“Every child deserves this chance,” CASA Program Coordinator Sarah Mulé said.

“And I’m so grateful every day to work for an organization committed to making sure each child in our community has that.”

There is a child in our community who is waiting for you and the compassion you have to offer.

To learn more, please call the CASA office at (570) 855-2247 or visit luzernecasa.org.

There’s No Place like Hope