14 new court-appointed advocates for foster children sworn in

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Children in foster care in Central Oregon have 14 more advocates on their side. Community volunteers were sworn in as the latest group of Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASA volunteers, on Tuesday in a Deschutes County Circuit Court courtroom ceremony.

“A child in foster care faces tremendous challenges,” said Jenna App, executive director of CASA of Central Oregon. “I don’t believe that a child can have too many caring adults in their life, and a CASA may be the only consistent adult in a child’s life while they are in foster care.”

CASA of Central Oregon trains and supports volunteers to serve children in foster care in Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson counties.  CASA volunteers come from all backgrounds and are dedicated to advocating for the needs of children who have been removed from their parents' care due to neglect or abuse.  

CASA volunteers complete a thorough training process that includes a background check, more than 40 hours of training and an interview with a Judge. After being sworn in as officers of the court Tuesday by Judge Bethany Flint, CASA volunteers will be appointed to their first cases.

“State law requires that every child in foster care in Oregon has a CASA to advocate for them, but right there are not enough CASA volunteers for every child in in Central Oregon,” says App. “Currently there is a waiting list of more than 65 children who need an advocate.”

In 2019, more than 420 children spent time in foster care in Central Oregon. More than 350 of these children were served by a CASA volunteer.

To meet the need, CASA of Central Oregon is holding more trainings for new advocates. The next training begins Wednesday, April 8 from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. and runs weekly through June 3 in Redmond. There will be additional trainings in the summer and fall in Central Oregon. If anyone is interested in more information about becoming a CASA, more information is at www.CasaOfCentralOregon.org/volunteer, info@casaofcentraloregon.org or 541-389-1618.

Details about the trainings are:

Spring: Wednesdays from 5:00 - 8:30 p.m., April 8 - June 3. High Desert ESD in Redmond (2804 SW Sixth Street)
Summer: Tuesdays from 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., June 23 - August 11. Rosie Bareis Sanctuary in Bend  (1010 NW 14th St.)

Fall: Wednesdays, September 9 - November 4. Location TBD.