The statistics are deeply troubling.  Each year in Cambria County, more than 800 children who suffer abuse or neglect find themselves in the court system awaiting their fate.  Will they be allowed to remain with their parents?  Will they end up in foster care for a time? Or is it in their best interest to be freed up for adoption?  Whatever the case, the goal is for all these children to live in safe, permanent, nurturing homes.  Since 1997, Cambria County CASA Beginnings has provided specially trained volunteers to be the voices for these children.  CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates.  CASA volunteers work for the judge to review and monitor cases of children who become part of the juvenile justice system.  CASA volunteers work closely with the children and their families to bring an independent assessment of the case to court, recommending to the judge what is best for the child's future.

Over the past 10 years, 311 children have been helped by 97 volunteers.  Currently, 36 volunteers are working with 50 children.  A new class of seven CASA volunteers completed training and were sworn in by Judge Norman Krumenacker III at a special recognition dinner November 14, 2007 at the Holiday Inn, downtown Johnstown. CASA volunteers do not take the place of Children and Youth Services caseworkers.  Rather, it is their job to help keep the lines of communication open -- a responsibility that typically requires about 12 hours of volunteer service per case per month.  After 50 hours of initial training, 12 hours of ongoing annual training are required, but volunteers can easily fill this requirement by attending monthly "CASA Cafes" that give them the opportunity to learn and share experiences with other volunteers.  Independent study is also available.

If you are interested in speaking up for a child in need, please call Cambria County CASA at 814-539-1919 and ask for Jackie Price, CASA Director, or Debbie Marx, Volunteer Coordinator.  Please e-mail Jackie Price at jprice@beginningsinc.org. The CASA Advisory Board includes Allan Bassler, Mary Bevan, Dawn Brooks, Terry Malzi, Peggy McGlynn, Rosemary Zenone and Debbie Vitko. More information about CASA can be found at www.nationalcasa.org or www.pacasa.org.