Click here to subscribe today or Login.
WILKES-BARRE — A dozen more Luzerne County residents officially became Court Appointed Special Advocates on Thursday, determined to help children in the county’s foster care system.
The 12 newest advocates are the second class to be added to the CASA program this year. They were sworn in at a ceremony at the Luzerne County Courthouse.
CASA’s goal is to link county children in foster care with a volunteer advocate, who seeks to be their rock in the legal process while also finding them a permanent home as quickly as possible.
The program’s executive director, John Aciukewicz, says swearing-in day is always one of the best days.
“This is probably one of the happiest days for the CASA program, aside from when there’s an adoption of a child,” he said in his opening remarks, thanking the new advocates for volunteering.
A current CASA volunteer, Sandy Serafin, spoke to the inductees, offering them words of wisdom on how to best advocate for children. Serafin has been with CASA since 2014, and is now working on her fourth case, according to Aciukewicz.
“Commit yourself to being the best advocate that you can be,” she said. She warned this would be hard work, requiring the advocates to learn every shred of information about the child that could possibly exist.
“Commit yourself to your child and never give up on your child,” she said. “I don’t think I have to go into any further explanation about that.”
After Serafin spoke, 11 of the 12 new volunteers were sworn in by Luzerne County Judge Jennifer L. Rogers. The 12th volunteer could not attend the ceremony and will be sworn in at a later date.
‘Full of hope’
Robert Yanik, another new CASA advocate, was elected by the class to say a few words about the importance of what they will be doing. Yanik said the program had a special place in his heart after time spent with county Children and Youth Services.
According to Yanik, one of the most important parts of CASA is the confluence of people from a variety of backgrounds — medical, legal, social work and others.
“We are here to advocate the well-being of children, the children we serve,” he said. “We advocate for an experience of life that is more just, more gentle and full of hope.”
Aciukewicz closed the ceremony with the news that the program now has 44 advocates, up from only 18 at the start of 2017. While he acknowledged this does leave the agency slightly short of its year-end goal for its “90 in 20” program — 90 advocates by the end of 2020 — he was still hopeful things will get back on track.
Aciukewicz said the first class of two in 2019 would be forming March 27, and an informational session will take place Monday, Dec. 3, at 5 p.m. at the CASA office. Those interested in volunteering can find out more information at luzernecasa.org.
This year’s inductees, besides Yanik, include Michael Callahan, John Graham, Darlene Gubino, Donna Henderson, Suzanne Kapral, Peggy Kosior, Mary Agnes Kratz, Allyson Leskowsky, Doralyn Moody, Kathy Paranich and Dorene Urban.
