Henrico CASA to host volunteer-recruitment drive

With a nod to August school-supply drives, Henrico CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) is planning a recruitment drive to add new volunteers to its ranks.

Anyone who is interested in potentially becoming a CASA can register for a virtual information session scheduled for Aug. 10 at noon or request a recording to watch at any time. CASAs are volunteers from a wide variety of professional fields who donate their time to support children whose families are in crisis and who become involved in the child welfare system. If those children are removed from their homes due to safety concerns, they often face instability – potentially moving from placement to placement, caseworker to caseworker and community to community. Often, switching placements may also mean switching schools.

CASAs speak up for children who otherwise may go unheard in the court system. In the courtroom, they often make recommendations for school stability and educational interventions. Beyond the courtroom, they work to support children’s education by helping teachers, coaches, counselors and school administrators understand the child’s unique challenges.

“Having to change schools causes the youth we serve to lose not only academic process, but also personal connections. They are also grappling with different types of trauma which can influence their learning and behavior. It’s no surprise that they tend to have worse educational outcomes than their peers,” said Jeannine Panzera, executive director of Henrico CASA.

“Every child and every student deserve every opportunity to thrive. Our advocates make that possible by setting children up to succeed.”