As CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of McKean County prepare to enter their seventh year of helping some of the county’s most vulnerable citizens, the organization is inviting the public to hear an update on its progress.
CASA’s board will hold its annual meeting on Jan. 28 at the Bradford Club. Here, attendees will not only hear how CASA is doing, but also see the recognition of volunteers and donors and the nomination of new members.
CASA trains volunteers to advocate in court for children who are in the welfare system.
A complimentary breakfast buffet will be served at 7:45 a.m., followed by the meeting at 8 a.m.
Suzy Meyer-Page, executive director of CASA of McKean County, will report on the year’s accomplishments.
Among the topics that visitors will hear about are CASA’s goal and a new program at the organization, according to Meyer-Page.
“Our Board President, Bob Esch, will speak to the community about the mission and vision of CASA of McKean County and Dr. Donna Dombek, CASA Therapy Dog Program dog handler and Director of the Teacher Education Program at the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford will talk about the benefits of therapy dogs,” Meyer-Page said.
Attendees will be able to meet some of the therapy dogs, as Dombeck some of the other dog handlers will bring them.
The board that oversaw operation of CASA in 2019 included Robert Esch, Katy Pude, Julie Cleland, Christy Graham, Patsy Arrowsmith, Gary Buchsen, Ginny Hauser, Becki Ivancic, David London, Brent Raabe, Christy Sullivan and Jim Wiseman.
A number of active volunteers will be recognized for their service in 2019, too.
Volunteers who served in 2019 are Brenda Baker of Kane, Vickie Baker of Bradford, Eddie Buggie of Bradford, Rebecca Boorum of Port Allegany, Karen Cassin of Bradford, Karen Cochran of Port Allegany, Amber Davenport of Bradford, Jennifer Fitton of Bradford, Estelle Fuhrer of Wellsville, N.Y., Bonnie Fuller of Kane, Karen Haberberger of Kane, Zoe Hatcher of Bradford, Joy Jeffrey of Bradford, Peggy Larson of Kane, Lisa Leschner of Mount Jewett, Jean Luciano of Bradford, Bob Miller of Custer City, Kim Mooney of Bradford, Carol Newman of Bradford, Julie Newman of Bradford, Kimberly Pollock of Bradford, Mary Ann Roney of Bradford, Bill Reese of Lewis Run, Autumn Stiles of Smethport, Jennifer Tanner of Smethport, Whitney Thomas of Smethport, David Trask of Smethport, Annie Wolfe of Mount Jewett, Jo Wolfe of Kane and Jim Young of Port Allegany.
Those volunteers provide an important function to the children they help, who don’t always have an adult who has a steady role in their lives.
As a press release from Meyer-Page explained, “The Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program was established in McKean County in 2014 and connects trained volunteer community members with children who have been abused and neglected and need someone to advocate for their best interests in the court system.
“Since children in placement often have many human service and child welfare professionals involved in their lives, having a CASA volunteer who focuses only on them gives them much-needed consistency and advocacy.”
Since CASA of McKean County formed in 2014, 47 volunteers have served 70 children, and 24 of those children were successfully placed in permanent homes.
Reservations for the annual meeting are due by Jan. 23. To RSVP, contact Meyer-Page at 568-2171 or casa@mckeancountypa.org.
