Apr 24, 2018 4 min read

Canonsburg resident Wayne Szmyt was sitting in a diner one particularly cold winter day when he struck up a conversation with the only other customer in the place, who happened to be an attorney from West Virginia.

When Szmyt said he was retired, the attorney suggested he consider volunteering for CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates.

“I did the research and checked it out, and decided it was something I wanted to do,” said Szmyt, who has volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters. “Why would you not want to do this if you could help in some way?”

Chelsei Fleegal, 23, of Burgettstown, felt a similar calling.

A veterinary technician for the Washington Area Humane Society, Fleegal adopted a puppy that is now going through training to become a therapy dog. Gavin, a yellow Labrador retriever, will help calm children who are awaiting hearings at the courthouse.

During a fundraiser for the Compassionate Care Network, a group that supports abused and neglected children and animals in Washington County, Fleegal talked with a CASA staff member, who told her that volunteers provide a vital service.

“Something really hit home for me,” Fleegal said. “I really wanted to do more, to get involved and give back to the children of Washington County.”

Szmyt and Fleegal were two of 14 trainees to be sworn in Friday by Washington County Judge Michael Lucas as CASA for Kids of Washington County volunteers. They are tasked with acting in the best interest of abused and neglected children in the court system by developing a relationship with the child, gathering information and compiling reports for the judge prior to hearings.

Lucas, the county’s juvenile dependency judge, told the volunteers they are vital to the child welfare system.

“(You) help us make decisions and make sure (children) not only find a forever home, but thrive in that home,” Lucas said.

According to Vivian Osowski, CASA executive director, there are currently 42 volunteers assisting 84 children. The newly-inducted class will immediately start helping about 20 children on the waiting list. Osowski said that once those children are assigned, more cases will come in, and there will be a need for more volunteers.

“The staff appreciates all the work you do and have been doing,” she told the trainees.

CASA holds training twice a year, in the spring and fall.

There is no education or background requirement for volunteers, who spend, on average, five to 15 hours a month working on one case.

Trainees go through more than 40 hours of training, plus six hours of court observation. Once assigned to a case, they will work as fact-finders by spending time with the children, their families and others in their lives. Advocates provide as much information on the case as possible, in the form of prepared reports for the judge. They also ensure the child’s needs are being met through the process.

Fleegal said the responsibility of an advocate is great, but she’s confident she can handle it.

“They have a support system with other volunteers and staff, that I feel like even if I get overwhelmed, they’ll be there to help,” said Fleegal. “I’m excited to be able to help. That’s the main reason we do this, to give a child a voice.”

Szmyt agreed.

“There are at least four people you can count on, and they’re all equally knowledgeable and can help you with the writing and investigative process,” he said.

CASA for Kids Inc. was established in 2002 and is one of only 25 Court Appointed Special Advocates programs serving counties in Pennsylvania.

The organization’s largest fundraising event, 2018 Chefs for CASA, will be held April 27 at Bella Sera in Canonsburg.

For more information on CASA or the Chefs for CASA event, visit www.casawashingtoncounty.org.