JOHNSTOWN, CAMBRIA COUNTY - A Cambria County judge swore in a group of volunteers Wednesday night that are trained to speak for child abuse victims in a court of law. It's called CASA.
Kenneth Corson and the rest of the volunteers took 30 hours of training, learning court reporting, how to talk with abused children, and to speak for them.
Cases like the Jerry Sandusky trial have shown the need for more child advocates. Corson says the high profile nature of the case got people to pay attention to the problem. Now they have a lot of good volunteers who want to help.
Judge Norman Krumenacker officially swore in the volunteers. And they all got one of these kits with ID cards, first aid kits, and a special book written by someone who adopted a foster child. That child was previously helped by a CASA volunteer.
Robin Porter, another newly sworn-in volunteer, knows not everyone can be a child advocate in the courts. But she also knows everyone can do something. And she thinks if people are observant and are willing to come forward if they see something wrong, that's an important role too.
CASA, which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate, is looking for more volunteers. They're focusing on Cambria and Somerset counties.
You can learn more about the CASA program and apply to be a volunteer to be in the Johnstown based chapter.
Kenneth Corson and the rest of the volunteers took 30 hours of training, learning court reporting, how to talk with abused children, and to speak for them.
Cases like the Jerry Sandusky trial have shown the need for more child advocates. Corson says the high profile nature of the case got people to pay attention to the problem. Now they have a lot of good volunteers who want to help.
Judge Norman Krumenacker officially swore in the volunteers. And they all got one of these kits with ID cards, first aid kits, and a special book written by someone who adopted a foster child. That child was previously helped by a CASA volunteer.
Robin Porter, another newly sworn-in volunteer, knows not everyone can be a child advocate in the courts. But she also knows everyone can do something. And she thinks if people are observant and are willing to come forward if they see something wrong, that's an important role too.
CASA, which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate, is looking for more volunteers. They're focusing on Cambria and Somerset counties.
You can learn more about the CASA program and apply to be a volunteer to be in the Johnstown based chapter.
Comments
This is so needed in PA. court systems. There is a judge in Montgomery County that recently heard a case where a son accused his mother of sexual abuse, she never met the young man and refused to read a letter that he wrote to her, but she decided he was lying. The young man was recently hospitalized and evidence of trauma was evident. It was recommended that he be allowed to go back to see a therapist he had worked with for 8 months. His mother has refused to allow him to see this counselor for over a year. She only wants a counselor that will allow her in the sessions. tHE JUDGE HAS AGREED WITH THIS. wHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE? The judge never reported the abuse to the Dept. of Children and Youth when she should have. Mother refuses counseling...and the judge never saw to it that counseling was given, even tho one of her court appointed friends recommended counseling. What are Mom and the judge afraid of? That they are both guilty of mental injury and that mother is guilty and the judge screwed up.
loismack l.
November 7, 2012 at 11:18 pm
loismack l.
November 7, 2012 at 11:07 pm
Charlotte Ames is the area's only local Health Reporter and brings you the latest medical health news weeknights. You can catch Healthcast on WTAJ News at 5:00pm and her Health Headlines report on WTAJ News at 5:30pm.