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8
July – September 2013
www.deltalivingmagazine.com
By Gina Turturici
“Be prepared to be chal-
lenged…and, to lose your heart,”
says Sandy Smith, 65, Court Ap-
pointed Special Advocates (CASA)
of Contra Costa County volunteer.
For the last five years Sandy
Smith has volunteered as a CASA
advocate – a voice for abused and
neglected children as they find their
way through a tangled and overbur-
dened foster care system. Through
no fault of their own, over 1,000
children in Contra Costa County
embark upon this journey every
year. Although many must make it
seemingly alone, in 2012 nearly 140
children made it with a dedicated
CASA volunteer by their side.
CASA of Contra Costa County
is part of a national organization
that trains, recruits and supports
community volunteers to advocate
for neglected and abused children
during the juvenile dependency
court process in order to help ev-
ery child ultimately thrive in a safe
and permanent home. CASA vol-
unteers are sworn officers of the
court and have the authority and
responsibility to act on behalf of
the child.
“Our volunteers are commu-
nity members who share the com-
mon vision and commitment to
make a positive impact on the life
of a child, and in turn, an impact
for generations to come,” states
Charles Mead, CASA’s executive
director.
CASA volunteers make an in-
dependent assessment of the cir-
cumstances of the youth they are
advocating for and submit a report
every six months to all parties on
the case.The judge uses this report,
as well as one from CFS (Children
and Family Services), to make de-
cisions about the child’s placement
and future.
“As a CASA volunteer I am
required to attend court when my
child’s case is heard. In my experi-
ence, most times the CASA volun-
teer is the only person in the court-
room who has a relationship with
the child. We can and do make a
difference,” says Smith.
With a nostalgic smile, Smith
reflects upon the first child that she
advocated for. As with most chil-
dren in the foster care system, this
child had been moved repeatedly
from foster home to foster home.
“During the year that I was her
advocate, I wasn’t sure that she was
truly hearing me. I decided to write
her notes, including small words of
encouragement as well as positive
acknowledgements,” says Smith.
Knowing that when many fos-
ter children are moved time and
time again, personal belongings
and prized keepsakes become few,
Smith was heartened to learn that
after four years and multiple place-
ments, and a year on the streets, that
she still carried the notes with her.
“We are looking for more vol-
unteers to serve the 90 youth on
our waitlist,” says Mead.
CASA Volunteers Provide a
Powerful Voice in a Child’s Life
CASA volunteers work one-on-one with abused and neglected youth while
in foster care and during the judicial process. CASA of Contra Costa County
was established in 1981, and currently has over 90 children waiting to be as-
signed a volunteer advocate. Photo credit: National CASA Association.
“As a CASA volunteer, I am doing
work that makes me proud,” says
Sandy Smith, East Bay resident.
Photo credit: Gina Turturici.
For more information contact CASA of Contra
Costa County at 925.256.7284 - ext. 7, or visit
www.cccocasa.org.
Upcoming Informational Sessions
Monday, July 15
12:30 - 2 p.m. and 6:30 - 8 p.m.
Walnut Creek, CA
Monday, July 22
6:30 - 8 p.m.
Pittsburg, CA
Monday, August 5
12:30 - 2 p.m. and 6:30 - 8 p.m.
Walnut Creek, CA