COMMUNITY BRIEFS: Community volunteers for CASA

Judge David Ortley swore in 11 new community volunteers for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate on Oct. 24.

The new advocates are Jackie Burns, Jane Larcombe, Holly Pittaway, Amber Martin, Patty Strellnauer, Rita Tuller, Ted Koenig, Gayle Bax, Chelsea Sellers, Dale Bax and Lynn Taylor.

Each volunteer will work as a guardian ad litem for abused and neglected children in the Flathead County foster care system. They have completed 55 hours of training that covers topics such as the role of a CASA, child development, domestic violence, assessing family strengths, the court process, cultural diversity and how to write court reports for a judge.

Last year 202 children were served by CASA and given a voice in court. CASA for Kids works to assign an advocate to every abused or neglected child who is removed from their home and entered in the foster care system. The next training cycle starts in March. More information is available at www.flatheadcasa.org or by calling 755-7208.