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CASA hires new program director

Wednesday, July 9, 2008 2:24 PM EDT

CASSOPOLIS - On June 24, the Cass County CASA Board of Directors hired James Ward of Cassopolis as program director, it was announced recently.

CASA's new director brings more than 30 years experience as a sales management professional to the job.

CASA President Nancy Smith told the board that Ward will bring a special expertise to CASA's efforts to increase the number of volunteers within the county.

She praised his skills as meeting CASA's needs for expansion of its volunteer program.

Ward worked for CNA Insurance Companies from 1977 to 2002 before moving to Cassopolis.

In 2003, he formed Great Lakes Brokerage Agency, which provides product and underwriting expertise to independent insurance agents. He is a graduate of Aquinas College of Grand Rapids. He and his wife Laurel have two daughters, both of whom live in Columbus, Ohio.

CASA volunteers had their first opportunity to meet Jim on June 26.

He told them, "Supporting you, our current volunteers, and building the volunteer program to meet the growing needs of children in foster care in Cass County are my major goals."

Persons interested in becoming court-appointed special advocates volunteers can contact Ward at (269) 445-4431 anytime during July or August for the training session scheduled to begin in September.

CASAs speak out for abused and neglected children, giving them a voice in court and an adult in their lives who knows and understands their needs during their time in foster care. The CASA's goal is to find a safe, permanent home for children as quickly as possible.

CASA volunteers visit with the child, research the case that has brought the child to court, review documents and interview people in the child's life and make a report to the court as to what is in the child's best interest in terms of placement, services, reunification and permanency. CASA volunteer training consists of 30 hours pre-service training, followed by a mentoring program and 12 hours of in-service training through out the year.

Volunteers learn about the court system, effective advocacy techniques for children and specific topics such as child sexual abuse to early childhood development.

The volunteer monitors their child's situation while in foster care to be sure that the child is safe and that their physical, psychological and educational needs are being addressed. Sometimes all of the other adults in the child's case change - foster parents, case workers, even lawyers appointed to represent the child - but the CASA volunteer is always there.

An initial screening is required of all prospective volunteers, who are interviewed, screened and have a background and criminal records check.

The Cass County CASA program was founded by Judge Susan Dobrich of the Cass Family Court in 1995 and trained its first class of volunteers in 1997. Today in Cass County there are 13 active CASA Volunteers, a full- time Director and the program is governed by a 15 member Board of Directors. CASA volunteers are currently serving 15 children. At any given time, Cass County has between 150 and 175 children in foster care.

Cass County CASA is accepting applications for our next training session scheduled to begin after Labor Day. You can go the www.nationalcasa.org to learn more about CASA, or call 269-445-4431or e-mail casscocasa@yahoo.com for more information.

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