HACKENSACK—The mission of Bergen County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Inc. is to speak up in court for the best interests of the nearly 500 children (annually) in Bergen County who have been removed from their homes due to abuse and/or neglect. They are living in foster homes, group homes, or treatment facilities.
Bergen County CASA is an independent, nonprofit organization of professionals and trained volunteers who have been appointed by the Bergen County Family Court to advocate for children removed from their homes due to abuse and/or neglect. CASA works to ensure that needed services and assistance are made available to these children while helping to move them toward safe and permanent homes.
“Our volunteers speak with everyone involved in their appointed child’s life, including caseworkers, medical professionals, therapists, teachers, mentors, biological parents, foster parents and more,” Bergen County CASA told Northern Valley Press. “Using the information gathered our advocates prepare a report for family court once every three months with recommendations regarding what is in their appointed child’s best interest.”
CASA volunteers stay on their child’s case throughout the court litigation process. They become the one consistent presence in our foster children’s lives.
“This is very important when everything else in their lives is fluctuating; our children may be moving to different homes, attending new schools, speaking to new caseworkers, living with different foster parents and so on,” Bergen County CASA said. “Our foster children learn that they can rely upon their CASA as a constant support during this most stressful time in their lives.”
To learn more about volunteering to help Bergen County’s foster children, come to an information session at 1 Bergen County Plaza, Hackensack:
• Saturday, June 15 at 10 a.m.
• Wednesday, June 19, at 10 a.m. or 5:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 26, at 10 a.m. or 5:30 p.m.
• Saturday, June 29 at 10 a.m.
You can register to confirm your attendance either online or by emailing; lauren@bergencasa.org.
There is more information on our web site at; www.bergencasa.org.
“We are looking forward to meeting you!” said Bergen County CASA.
