On Wednesday, May 1, CASA of Lancaster and Lebanon Counties celebrated the swearing in of nine new Court Appointed Special Advocates. CASA staff, board members, and community supporters gathered in the Imperial Blue Room of the Holiday Inn Lancaster as The Honorable Leonard G. Brown, III swore in the new class of volunteers. The Honorable Shawn P. McLaughlin was also in attendance. The evening was the culmination of 30 plus hours of training completed by each volunteer in order to assist children in Lancaster County’s foster care system.

New Court Appointed Special Advocates include: Kristin Antrim, CASA Lebanon Program Specialist, Brownstown; Kathryn (Katie) Boatwright, Manheim Township; Rose Connelly, Lititz; John Featherlin, Manheim Township; Kelly Frye, Lititz; Amy Harcourt, Lancaster; Brianna (Bri) Hornberger, Manor Township; Irene Marianos, Manheim Township; Laura Rusch, Lancaster.

A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer is a trained citizen who is appointed by a judge to represent the best interest of a child in court. The children that CASA volunteers advocate for have been abused and neglected and placed in to the foster care system. CASA volunteers work to help ensure a safe and permanent home for the child as quickly as possible. A CASA volunteer is an extension of the "eyes and ears” of the judge. Most importantly, the CASA volunteer speaks with the child and others involved in the child’s life such as biological parents, foster parents, social workers, teachers, doctors and therapists.

This is the 45th class of CASAs sworn in in Lancaster County. These new CASAs will join the 135 active CASAs currently advocating for 163 children in Lancaster and Lebanon counties.  CASA hopes to eventually be able to provide a volunteer to every child in need and the nine new volunteers will help the organization come closer to this goal.

If you are interested in learning more about CASA and what volunteer advocates do, please sign up to attend an information session. Becoming a CASA Virtual Information Sessions will be held Wednesday, May 22, 5:30-6:30 pm, and Monday, June 3, 5:30-6:30 pm. Learn more and register for either session by visiting www.casalancleb.org or calling 717- 286-1430.