Six New Volunteers Sworn in to Advocate for Kids in Foster Care
Longtime Hospice Board Member Recognized
Six new community members were recently welcomed to the ranks of volunteers for children and youth in the Eastern Panhandle . Sworn in by The Honorable Judge Steven Redding , the new Court Appointed Special Advocates ( CASA ) are community volunteers who ensure that children have a safe , permanent and caring home in which to live .
Each advocate is a community volunteer appointed to a case by a judge to provide a voice for a child who has been removed from their home due to abuse or neglect . These community volunteers ensure that the child ’ s best interest remains front and center during court proceedings .
CASA-EP volunteers advocate for the child they represent in every facet of their life and make recommendations to the court to ensure the child ’ s safety and well-being . As a part of their advocacy , they get to know important adults in the life of the child they represent , such as their parents , foster parents , coaches , doctors , therapists and more .
An essential part of being a CASA volunteer is remaining in frequent contact with teachers and school administrators to gain an understanding of a child ’ s unique strengths , challenges and needs . These interactions with the child ’ s school , combined with the volunteer ’ s relationship with the child , empower CASA volunteers to advocate in court for what a child needs to thrive academically .
Studies have shown that children with CASA volunteers do better in school . For youth and teens living in foster care , having a CASA volunteer means they are more likely to graduate from high school or earn a GED .
The support of a CASA volunteer often means children spend less time in the foster care system and are less likely to reenter foster care . CASA volunteers work for reunification with the child ’ s parents as their primary goal whenever it is safe and possible to do so . When reunification is not an option , CASA volunteers advocate for the child to live with another relative , family friend or a loving adoptive family . Whatever the circumstances of the case may be , CASA volunteers work with the child ’ s caseworker , family and others to build lifelong , committed support systems that will last long after the case is closed .
“ There isn ’ t another volunteer experience that matches what you ’ ll get with CASA ,” said Michelle Sudduth , executive director of CASA-EP . “ There is a human element that drives our volunteers to do their very best on behalf of the children and families we serve .”
HospiceCare advocate and longtime board member , Keith Stonestreet , was honored for his years of service and dedication to HospiceCare ’ s mission of providing compassionate care and affirming life through hospice , palliative and other supportive care services to patients , families and communities . At a ceremony during the Keith Stonestreet Golf Outing to Benefit HospiceCare , golfers , volunteers , HospiceCare staff and board members presented Keith with a custom Blenko water bottle and shared their gratitude for his service .
“ HospiceCare is proud to recognize and honor golf outing founder , Keith Stonestreet , for his years of dedication to and support of our mission through this annual event and his service to our board of directors ,” says Christopher Rawlings , HospiceCare CEO . “ Keith has done so much to help rally the community around our organization .”
“ It was with deep respect and admiration for Keith ’ s efforts that our board renamed this signature fundraiser as The Keith Stonestreet Golf Outing to Benefit HospiceCare this year ,” added HospiceCare Board of Directors President , Sharon Rowe .
Stonestreet joined the HopsiceCare board of directors in 2013 but had already been actively working in service to the organization by helping to spread awareness of the services offered and leveraging his substantial community connections to raise money to support the families served by the organization . Stonestreet organized the first golf outing in support of HospiceCare in 2011 , raising thousands of dollars that ensures everyone who needs HospiceCare ’ s services receive them , regardless of ability to pay .
Since its first year in 2011 , the event has raised nearly $ 900,000 to benefit several HospiceCare programs and services , including the Hubbard Hospice House , Kids Path & Camp Mend-A-Heart , The Wallace Center and PalliativeCare Center . Stonestreet ’ s dedication to engaging the community to participate in the outing is the key factor in making this event such a success year after year .
“ I began this golf outing as an opportunity to raise awareness in the community about the important services HospiceCare provides to West Virginians ,” says Stonestreet . “ I am proud that this outing has raised both money and awareness for an organization I hold so dear to my heart and am honored to have been a part of its success .”
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