HACKENSACK—Bergen County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), a nonprofit dedicated to advocating for children in the foster care system, is excited to announce Marc Blatt as the new vice president of its Board of Trustees.
Blatt brings years of leadership experience from his role at Rampart Agency and community service on advisory panels and the foundation board of Englewood Hospital. He will be honored at CASA’s Fore the Kids Golf and Pickleball Outing on Monday, Sept. 30 at Edgewood Country Club in River Vale, where he will help rally support for children in need.
Each year there are more than 120 children (from birth to age 21 years), in Bergen County’s foster care system who are desperately in need of stability, guidance and support. CASA volunteers are trained to fill that gap. These Court Appointed Special Advocates are often the only consistent adult in a foster child’s life, staying with them through the ups and downs, and ensuring their best interests are represented in court.
You won’t go it alone
CASA (bergencasa.org) is preparing for its next round of volunteer training starting on Sept. 28. Volunteers are essential to CASA’s mission—working closely with children to advocate for their physical, educational, and emotional needs, and providing a voice in Family Court that helps guide life-changing decisions.
Beyond training, CASA is partnering with the Division of Child Protection and Permanency and Bergen County’s Family Court to host Embracing Independence Day on Oct. 11 at the American Dream Mall. This special event will support foster teens aged 14 to 21 as they prepare for adulthood, connecting them with crucial resources and networks to help them thrive on their own.
Looking ahead to November, CASA will also observe National Adoption Month, an important time to raise awareness about the need for adoptive families and the thousands of children in foster care waiting for permanent homes. National Adoption Day (the Saturday before Thanksgiving) is a highlight, when courts across the country finalize adoptions and celebrate the creation of forever families. Additionally, National Family Week during Thanksgiving will emphasize the value of family—whether biological, adoptive, or foster—in every child’s life.
How You Can Make a Difference
There are many ways to get involved with CASA and support foster children in Bergen County:
- Become a CASA Volunteer: Help guide a child through the foster care system and advocate for their best interests in court.
- Male and Spanish-Speaking Volunteers Needed: CASA is actively seeking volunteers from diverse backgrounds, especially male and bilingual advocates, to better meet the needs of the children they serve.
- Fundraise and Donate: Join CASA’s fundraising efforts, like the Fore the Kids Golf and Pickleball Outing, or donate to support their mission.
- Volunteer Opportunities for Retirees and Communities of Color: Bergen CASA welcomes volunteers from all walks of life, including retired adults and people of color, to provide unique perspectives and support for foster children.
If you’ve ever wanted to make a lasting difference in a child’s life, now is the perfect time. CASA’s next volunteer training begins Sept. 28. For more information, call (201) 336-7520 or email Executive Director Lucy Rosen at lucy@bergencasa.org. Learn more at www.bergencasa.org.