Carson City CASA holds first formal swearing in ceremony for advocates

More than 15 Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) with the First Juvenile District Court in Carson City were sworn in Wednesday during a public ceremony held at the Carson City Courthouse.

First Judicial District Court Judge James T. Russell administered the oath in a first ceremony of its kind for Carson City's guardians ad litem, who are children's voices in court and throughout the legal process of a child welfare case.

"Thank you on behalf of the court system and the judiciary for doing this," Judge Russell addressed the CASA volunteers present in the court room Wednesday. "It's a very difficult job with respect to kids and what's important to them."

"You are the eyes and ears of the court, because without you, we just don't know a lot of things," he added. "This is just such an important position, because it ensures the best interest of the child, and that's what it's all about."

First Judicial District Juvenile Court Special Master Kimberly Okezie, who presides over child welfare and juvenile justice cases in the Nevada state capital, praised the Carson City CASA volunteers for stepping out and standing up for children in the community who need someone in their corner at such difficult times in their lives.

"I've been in awe of CASA from day one, since I became Special Master three years ago," she said. "It's impressive to see you all as volunteers out there in the community being our eyes and ears. I thank you from the bottom of my heart and appreciate everything that you do."

Carson City District Attorney Jason Woodbury, an outspoken supporter of CASA and foster parents in the community, expressed the value of guardians ad litem to legal professionals involved in the permanency process of child welfare cases.

"I know they help the court, but they help the attorneys for the children a lot, too, because of the nature of your interaction, you can communicate on their behalf," he said. "We couldn't do this without you."

Both existing volunteers and recent CASA graduates were sworn in together Wednesday afternoon, Carson City CASA Program Director Melanie McCormick said.

"This is a mixture of recent volunteer graduates of the CASA training program and long-time CASAs," she said. "Carson City CASA has never had an oath or swearing in ceremony. This is our first, and hopefully the beginning of many, many more as this will be a continuing recurrence."

McCormick said the ceremony gives her a public venue to recognize existing guardians ad litem in Carson City as well as welcome new advocates into the CASA program, a non-profit agency made up of community volunteers who advocate for the best interests of children involved in child welfare cases.

"I want to give them credit where credit is due as what they are undertaking is such a selfless and wondrous gift to the children of our community," she said. "I wanted this opportunity, before our judge, to show them how much CASA matters as they are speaking up for a child."

CASA volunteers undergo a rigorous 30-hour training regimen covering a wide variety of child welfare topics, such as the CASA role, children's well-being, trauma, resilience, communication skills, mental health, poverty, abuse, domestic violence, cultural competence, educational advocacy, age differences and their needs, as well as LGBTQ issues.

Training occurs both in a classroom and in the court room as volunteers in training learn as much as from observation as they do from presentations and discussions.

McCormick said a CASA guardian ad litem advocates on behalf of a child's educational, mental health, medical and dental care, family and sibling visitation needs, and work to increase the likelihood that their minor clients are placed in homes and with families where they will thrive.

"Ultimately, children deserve someone in their corner," she said. "An individual that is looking out for them and their needs and their wants. Someone who will stand up and voice their thoughts and concerns. Someone who can express their worries and fears."

The end goal is about fighting for and securing stability and permanency for a child, she said.

"As a CASA volunteer you can recommend services that will assist the family in healing and reconnecting with their children," McCormick said. "CASAs are not therapists and we are not attorneys, but we can make recommendations to the court that we think will be in the best interest of the child.

"Helping families heal and get the services necessary to reunify with their children is part of those recommendations that we can make," she added.

In order to serve children effectively during the permanency process, McCormick said CASA volunteers must study their clients carefully and come to know them deeply. That means spending time with the child and becoming more familiar with them than most.

"CASAs have the unique position of being able to see the child in all aspects of their life," she said. "A CASA has an intimate view into the child's life."

Call 775-882-6776, email casaofcc@earthlink.net or visit www.casaofcc.org for more information about CASA or to ask questions about becoming a volunteer guardian ad litem in the community.

Carson City CASA can also be found here on Facebook.