ESCAPE
Lower Shore CASA advocates for children who are under the protection of the Tri- County Circuit Courts due to abuse, neglect or abandonment. The program trains everyday people to become Court Appointed Special Advocate’s (CASA’s). CASA’s are officers of the court and, as such, conduct independent investigations and make recommendations to the judge regarding the best interest of the child to whom they are appointed. Lower Shore CASA is committed to serving as many children as possible who have been maltreated and who desperately need someone to stand by their side to speak up for their needs, safety, and permanence. Our trained volunteers advocate to ensure that children finding themselves in the child welfare system end up in safe, permanent and loving homes. Each year approximately 45 CASA’s advocate for approximately 65 vulnerable children.
Thank you for your interest in Lower Shore CASA and for wanting to help some of the most vulnerable children in the Tri-County area. We strive to advocate for every child who is involved with the court system due to abuse or neglect. We want to provide each child with a volunteer, a voice, and the support she or he needs. CASA’s are the “eyes and ears of the court,” delivering objective information and recommendations that focus strictly on each child’s best interest. We celebrate when barriers for successful parenting come down and families are reunited. We also celebrate with children when they find a safe and permanent home and exit the temporary care of the state. We seek volunteers from all backgrounds to support positive outcomes for children! With your help and commitment we can change a child’s story. Please contact us today or visit our website for more information about how you can help.
-Jerrona Smith, Director
• The program is in need of ALL volunteers
• The program has a special need for more male volunteers and African American volunteers
• CASA volunteers come from all walks of life but must be at least 21 years old
• 66 abused and/or neglected children were served by 42 Lower Shore CASA volunteers in the past year
• Roughly half of the children we serve are in foster care and the other half remain in their homes, with state supervision
• Gather facts through independent research
• Provide judges the information they need to make the most well-informed decisions for each child
• Work with legal and child welfare professionals, educators and service providers
• Advocate for the timely provisions of services for the child
• Provide consistent emotional support for the child
For more information, please visit our website at https://www.lowershorecasa.org/