The Chamber of Commerce is a regional resource that allows local businesses and organizations to reach out and get information in regards to business, community resources, and the law. The Chamber also helps you learn more about businesses in the community and the community as a whole. Whether you’re just starting out or are running a million dollar company, the Chamber has the potential to help your business be it’s best.
This month’s Chamber Member of the Month is CASA of The Mid-Shore, a local youth advocacy organization.
I had the chance to talk to Jane Crawford, CASA’s Volunteer Coordinator, about everything CASA does and how you can get involved.
For nearly thirty years, CASA has been advocating for children who find themselves entangled in our complex legal system. “Casa was the brainchild of a judge on the west coast,” Jane explained to me.
“He saw a need for impartial advocates who would
be able to put children’s best interests first.” CASA
often advocates for children in serious situations such as neglect, abuse and abandonment; usually with the goal of finding them a permanent and more stable home.
CASA is currently looking for advocates. “This is not your average volunteer position,” Jane explained to me. “It takes a real commitment of the heart. It is a long term position, and it takes a really unique person. We don’t want people get- ting into cases and then quitting.” Jane says that CASA advocates usually put in about ten hours of work a week, and it is common for cases to last over a year. “You become a researcher for their case. You learn everything you can about their lives, and then ultimately you report your findings to the judge.” Jane says the best type of volunteers are those who put a lot of thought into whether or not they want to be involved in the program.
No special skills are needed to volunteer with CASA, and they provide training for all of their advocates. The training takes place over the course of five weeks. CASA teaches its volunteers about the dynamics of the court system, cultural com- petency, the role of social workers in the system and more.
CASA plans to hold a training program in the fall, and they are currently ac- cepting applications from volunteers. You can learn more about volunteering and everything CASA does here: https://casamidshore.org/. If you would like to support CASA, but don’t believe volunteering is for you, they also accept donations. If you would like to learn more about the Chamber of Commerce, you can go to their website here: https://www.qacchamber.com/.