CASA of Greene County
52 S. Church Street, Waynesburg, PA 15370
Website: www.greenecountycasa.org / Facebook: facebook.com/GreeneCountyCASA /Main Number: 724-833-2615 / Email: greenecountycasa@gmail.com
CASA of Greene County is a non-profit organization whose mission is to advocate for the best interests of Greene County’s most vulnerable children. When a child enters the Greene County Dependency Court System there are several paths their cases can take. Some cases end quickly, based on the compliance of the parents and children involved. And, some cases can take over a year to resolve because of lingering circumstances like substance abuse, neglect, emotional abuse, and physical altercations involving the parents, children, or both.
Some cases require extra attention, and this is where CASA of Greene County steps in. Once a Judge, or another party to the case, requests CASA’s involvement, a volunteer advocate is selected to be paired with the child or children involved. Advocates must be extensively trained to take on this responsibility. They are required to complete more than 30 hours of training before accepting a case. They must also complete yearly, ongoing training to maintain their certification. These advocates are paired with the children they serve based on commonalities, experience, and specific skill sets. CASA’s advocates are charged with obtaining medical records, interviewing the parties involved, compiling school records, keeping monthly visits with the children, and preparing a report on the child’s progress, including recommendations to the court based on their findings. In February of 2021, CASA of Greene County participated in an adoption hearing in front of the President Judge at that time, Farley Toothman. CASA’s advocate had been assigned to the case for over a year and was honored to be a part of the child’s life during one of their most critical times. Not only was the advocate asked by the Judge for their recommendation of the adoption, but they were also invited to participate in the family’s after party. CASA advocates truly make a difference in the lives of Greene County children. CASA of Greene County’s mission is to advocate for the best interests of Greene County’s most vulnerable children. Trained advocates strive to recommend to the court the best advice possible, based on their collection and interpretation of all vital information available. If necessary, these advocates are prepared to be the most involved person in the child’s life during these difficult times. CASA exists solely to help the children of our community who need it the most. April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and again, CASA of Greene County is partnering with Greene County Children and Youth Services to promote both the awareness of child abuse and the responsibility of the community to save our children from neglect. Please take a moment to notice the display on the front lawn of the Greene County Courthouse. Every blue pinwheel represents a Greene County child that was protected by the child welfare system. While the number seems overwhelming, it is admirable that good people still volunteer their time and energy to protect the children who need that protection the most. CASA of Greene County is always looking for new volunteers to advocate for our children. Our advocates are the life blood of CASA. If you, or someone you know, is interested in volunteering please call us at 724-833-2615. We look forward to increasing the number of advocates in Greene County in order to add to the number of children we can help. |