Sparta resident sworn in as advocate for abused children

Morristown — Sparta resident Barbara Buran was recently sworn in as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) by The Honorable Philip J. Maenza. CASA of Morris and Sussex Counties, a local non-profit organization, trains and supervises community volunteers to advocate for the best interests of children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse and neglect. The new volunteers have made the extraordinary commitment to “speak up” for these vulnerable children in court and to advocate on their behalf until they reach a permanent home.
The ceremony was held at the Morris County Courthouse in Morristown. Additional volunteers sworn in that day included Ana Espino (Dover), Sheri Pesce (Pottersville), Kathy McBrady (Madison), and Christine Wenslau (Summit).
CASA volunteers participate in an extensive 36-hour training program before officially being sworn in to be assigned a child in the foster care system. The CASA volunteers ensure that these vulnerable children receive the educational and medical resources they need to thrive and that they find safe, permanent, loving homes as soon as possible.
“CASA Volunteers give their time, energy, and passion to bring better tomorrows to vulnerable children. I want to thank our new group of volunteers for taking on this tremendous task. I applaud them for their dedication,” said Dr. Lisa Firkser, Executive Director of CASA.
CASA of Morris and Sussex Counties is part of a statewide network of community-based, non-profit programs that recruit, screen, train, and supervise volunteers to “Speak Up for a Child.” These children have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. CASA is the only program in New Jersey that uses trained volunteers to work one‐on‐one with children, ensuring that each one gets the services needed and achieves permanency in a safe, nurturing home. Visit www.casamsc.org or call 973-998-7590 for more information about CASA of Morris and Sussex Counties.