CASA advocates sworn-in
Pictured back row left to right: District Judge Robert B. Allison, District Judge Heidi J. Ulbricht, District Judge Dan Wilson and District Judge Danni Coffman; front row Camie Anderson, Bryan Bowman, Anna Mahlen, Christine Degenhardt and Angela Tollerson (photo courtesy of CASA for Kids).
Five community members have been sworn in as Flathead County Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) and Guardian ad Litem (GAL) volunteers.
Each will work as a CASA and GAL for abused and neglected children in the Flathead County foster care system. District Court Judges Robert B. Allison, Heidi J Ulbricht, Dan Wilson and Danni Coffman presided over the ceremony and administered the oath. Each new advocate received a certificate for the 50 hours of training they completed. The training covers topics such as the CASA and GAL role, child development, substance abuse, domestic violence, assessing family strengths, the court process, laws relating to abuse and neglect, cultural diversity, interviewing and how to write reports to the court.
This year 186 children in Flathead County were served by CASA for Kids. CASA’s goal is to have an advocate for every abused or neglected child who enters the foster care system. Applications are being accepted for the next training cycle, which starts in March to April 2023. Get more information at www.flatheadcasa.org or by calling 406-755-7208.