Judge Bridget Cohee of West Virginia’s 23rd Judicial Circuit swore in seven new court-appointed special advocates on March 17. These individuals are joining a team of 70 other volunteer advocates who are trained by CASA-EP (Court Appointed Special Advocates of the Eastern Panhandle) to work with children who find themselves in the state’s foster care system. Judge Cohee remarked that, “the goal for each child is family reunification, but creating a new family through adoption is also a beautiful thing” and noted the key role these volunteer advocates play in providing a voice for the children throughout the court-supervised process.
Michelle Sudduth, executive director of CASA-EP, expressed her gratitude to these community members “who have stepped up to provide a voice for a child. Their commitment translates to better outcomes for vulnerable children and youth and more services to families. Our volunteers are truly an inspiration to anyone who wants to involve themselves in meaningful, challenging, and high-impact volunteer service.”
By Staff Contributor