The Ottawa County Family Advocacy Center is in desperate need of CASA volunteers, the Court Appointed Special Advocates who are trained volunteers working in the best interests of children involved in the Ottawa County Courts due to abuse and neglect.

The current COVID-19 pandemic has created a significant need for new volunteers. The agency is looking to recruit at least 10 new volunteers and to immediately begin the initial training that is required. The children in the communities of Ottawa County are in need of a voice in the court system.

Potential CASA volunteers can contact the center at 419-301-0225 or at OCFamilyAdvocacy.org.

The CASA member does not provide social services or legal advice, but rather is an advocate to maintain the child as the focus of the case. A volunteer CASA member must be 21 years of age, agree to a criminal background check, complete 30 hours of pre-service training and an on-going 12 hours of continuing education each year.

CASA volunteers come from all walks of life, with a variety of professional, educational and ethnic backgrounds. Volunteers may be employed or retired, and stay at home parents or full time volunteers. CASA volunteers research the child’s circumstances, determine relevant facts in a child’s case, and report that information to the court.

A CASA member also monitors the case to ensure that the best interests of a child are being met. Every case is unique and the CASA volunteer does his or her best to inform the court as an independent, objective voice for the child.