‘An enormous gift’: Washington County’s newest child advocates sworn in
Photos: Karen Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
The newest class of court-appointed special advocates was sworn in Tuesday by Washington County Judge Traci McDonald. From left are: Jacqueline Thorpe, Phylliss Hartman, Janet Blake, McDonald, Lyn McGinnis, Kerry Sicafuse, Kate Dewey, and Bobbi DiClaudio.
Karen Mansfield/Observer-Reporter
CASA volunteer Phylliss Hartman, left, with Washington County Judge Traci McDonald, at the swearing-in ceremony held Tuesday for the seven new CASAs who will serve as child advocates in the court system.
Bobbi DiClaudio is hoping she can make a difference in at least one child’s life as a CASA volunteer.
The life coach and Canonsburg native who lives in Bridgeville said she’s wanted to serve as a CASA volunteer ever since a friend invited her to join in the annual CASA for Kids, Inc. of Washington County Walk for a Child fundraiser.
CASA, which stands for court-appointed special advocate, is a nonprofit that trains volunteers to work with children in the foster care system in court cases to determine what is in their best interest.
“I’ve thought about doing this for a few years and now I have the time to do it. A girlfriend invited me to the walk, and when I heard the stories, I knew I wanted to help. It’s been on my heart for a long time. I just really hope to be a light in the life of children who need it,” said DiClaudio.
DiClaudio and six other women were sworn in as CASAs Tuesday during a ceremony at the Washington County Courthouse.
Kelley Swift, executive director of CASA, said the newest group of CASAs raises the number of volunteers to 54 who are serving 148 children.
Currently, 15 children are on the CASA waiting list, and Swift said the nonprofit is looking to bring aboard more trusted supporters.
“It’s really important work and it’s so exciting to have so many community members willing to do it,” said Swift.
CASAs serve as an extension of the eyes and ears of the judge in dependency courts cases.
Volunteers undergo more than 35 hours of training that includes observation of dependency court proceedings. After being sworn in, a CASA is appointed by a judge to represent a child in a selected case.
The CASA researches the child’s reports and conducts interviews with the child, parents, family members, teachers, doctors, social workers, and others. CASAs also spend time with the child, monitoring their court hearings and court-ordered services. They also spend time simply meeting with the child.
The CASA then compiles a report for the judge with information from the research and interviews about what the CASA believes is in the best interest of the child. A CASA has one case at a time and stays with it until it is resolved.
Washington County Judge Traci McDonald, who swore in the CASAs, thanked them for volunteering.
“I’m glad that you have taken upon yourselves the responsibility of caring for the child. I hope you realize what a large responsibility it is, and the satisfaction you bring knowing you truly are making a difference in the life of someone else,” said McDonald, who noted she relies heavily on information provided by a CASA. “There’s nothing quite like being a CASA. You will be able to sit down and talk with the child, you’ll be able to hear what their ambitions are, what their wants are, what their fears are, and you’ll be able to sit and look at records that no one else has access to. It’s an enormous responsibility, it’s an enormous privilege, and an enormous gift for our court and the children of Washington County.”
For 18 years, Phylliss Hartman of Cecil Township has wanted to serve as a CASA, where she could be voice for children and work to make sure they don’t get lost in the legal or social service systems.
But between raising a family and working, the former paralegal couldn’t find time.
“I finally just decided I wanted to do it, and I realized there’s never going to be a right time, so I might as well just do it,” she said. “I am doing this because I realize that the system is overwhelmed, and that children’s educational and basic needs are not being met because people do not know how to navigate the system. I have learned over the years how to work my way through certain systems to get an answer. I would like to share that knowledge with other people to benefit them and break the cycles.”
Following the ceremony, the CASAs were assigned to their first cases, either a child or a sibling group. In all, they will work with 18 children.
The newly sworn in CASAs will help to ensure that every child – many of whom were abused or neglected – will have a caring adult on their side.
Said Hartman, “If I can help one kid, have one kid get his voice heard, and not what the system says it should be, that’s what I want to accomplish.”