Two new CASA graduates prepare to help Smith County children

August 7, 2019

L to R: Ginger Doyle, CASA, Bernie Morris, CASA Coordinator, and Megan Raetzel, CASA

On July 31, 2019, Ginger Doyle and Megan Raetzel completed an eight-week course to become Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) in Smith County.

Ginger and Megan will be sworn in by Judge Micheal Collins on August 27, 2019. After that, they will be able to take their first cases to help local children who have been abused and neglected.

Congratulations, Ginger and Megan!

The National CASA Association, together with its state and local members, supports and promotes Court Appointed volunteer advocacy for abused and neglected children so that they can thrive in safe, loving and permanent homes.

Current CASA advocates in Smith County (L to R): Carly Chandler, Melissa Hebert, Helen Davis, Ginger Doyle, Anne Waggoner, Megan Raetzel, Janice Lynch, Cory Dransfield, Bernie Morris.

Could you spare 10-12 hours per month to volunteer to help a child or children who have been abused or neglected find a safe permanent home where they will be loved and thrive? If so, you could become a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) to help keep children safe and build resilience as they go through tough times so they may bounce back.

In order to become a CASA volunteer, you must pass a background check, participate in a 30-hour pre-service training course, and agree to stay with a case until it is closed (a year and a half on average).

The next CASA volunteer training will begin on Tuesday, August 13, 2019. This is an eight-week course that will meet from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. each Tuesday in Cookeville.

Find out more about the requirements and role of being a CASA volunteer by calling Smith County CASA Coordinator, Bernie Morris, at 423-736-5545 or at casasmithco@uchra.com. You can also check CASA out on the web by clicking here.

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