Five local people recently completed thirty hours of training in order to become volunteer advocates for abused and neglected children in the custody of the state.  The training ended with the Honorable Judge Lauri Blake administering an oath to the new CASA volunteers in the 336th District Court. 

New child advocates with the Fannin County Children’s Center include Susan Haines from Leonard, Lyn Scott from Honey Grove, Dianne Lehde and Jo Dophied from Bonham and Tonia Burns from Bells. 

Each of the volunteers completed an intensive training class which has prepared them to advocate for children in the foster care system.  CASA, which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates, is appointed by the district judge to be the Guardian ad Litem for these children.  In that role, they will investigate the child’s situation and advocate for the child’s best interest in court hearings and other settings. 

(l-r) Susan Haines, Lyn Scott, Judge Lauri Blake, Dianne Lehde, Tonia Burns and Jo Dophied posed for a picture after the Judge administered the oath to the new CASA volunteers.

In the agency’s most recent fiscal year, CASA volunteers contributed 2,055 hours and drove more than 23,000 miles in their work on behalf of 74 children.  For more information, call (903) 583-4339 or visit www.fanninccc.org.