Counties. The new volunteers (L-R) Back row: Margaret Skar (Trainer), Ann Stachenfeld (Chatham), Nathaniel Wechsler (Morris Plains), Judge Enright, Aviva Arnuk (Chatham), Ralph D’Aries (Wantage), Michael Dean (Chatham) Front row: Kim Arthur (Madison), Mary Beth Cooney (Madison),Doren Greene (Mountain Lakes), Patricia MacKenzie (Lake Hiawatha), Joseph Dunn (West Caldwell) and Stephen Dunn (Rockaway). Photo courtesy of CASA.
Eleven area volunteers were sworn in recently at the Morris County Courthouse in Morristown to advocate on behalf of children in the court system. Here are more details.
FROM CASA OF MORRIS AND SUSSEX COUNTIES
Morris Plains resident Nathaniel Wechsler was recently sworn in as a Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) by The Honorable Catherine I. Enright, presiding family court judge of the Morris/Sussex Vicinage.
CASA of Morris and Sussex Counties, a local non-profit organization, trains and supervises community volunteers to advocate for the best interests of children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse and neglect. The new volunteers have made the extraordinary commitment to “speak up” for these vulnerable children in court and to advocate for them until they reach a permanent home.
The ceremony was held at the Morris County Courthouse in Morristown.
Additional volunteers sworn in that day included Aviva Arnuk (Chatham), Michael Dean (Chatham), Ann Stachenfeld (Chatham), Kim Arthur (Madison), Mary Beth Cooney (Madison), Ralph D’Aries (Wantage), Jospeph Dunn (West Caldwell), Stephen Dunn (Rockaway), Doren Greene (Mountain Lakes), and Patricia MacKenzie (Lake Hiawatha).
CASA volunteer advocates participate in an extensive 36-hour training program before officially being sworn in to be assigned to a child in the foster care system. Prior to the swearing in ceremony, volunteers and their guests gathered at the CASA office in Morristown for a welcome reception.
“CASA Volunteers give their time, energy and passion to bring better tomorrows to vulnerable children. I want to thank our new group of volunteers for taking on this tremendous task. I applaud them for their dedication,” said Dr. Lisa Firkser, executive director of CASA.
About CASA of Morris and Sussex Counties
CASA of Morris and Sussex Counties is part of a statewide network of community-based, non-profit programs that recruit, screen, train, and supervise volunteers to “Speak Up for a Child.” These children have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect.
CASA is the only program in New Jersey that uses trained volunteers to work one-on-one with children, ensuring that each one gets the services needed and achieves permanency in a safe, nurturing home. Visit www.casamsc.org or call 973-998- 7590 for more information about CASA of Morris and Sussex Counties.
