MONEYSAVER SEPTEMBER 27, 2019
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NEWS
Orientation held for therapy dog owners for Court Appointed Special Advocates program
By FRAN DE LANCEY
When the Court Appointed Special Advocates’ McKean County Courthouse Dog Program is implemented — probably in late October — history will be made. This is the state’s first program where therapy dogs provide emotional support for the youths who are participating in dependency court proceedings, experiences that can be frightening occurrences. The staff of CASA of McKean County sponsored the required orientation session for the six dog handlers Monday morning at the courthouse. They are Kolleen Press, Judy Stratton, Deb Cavagnaro, Beth Mills, Donna Dombek and Laura Meyers. Also attending were Virginia Hauser and Rebecca Ivancic, CASA of McKean County board members. McKean County Court of Common Pleas Judge Christopher Hauser initiated the McKean County Courthouse Dog Program. It operates under the auspices of the McKean County Court of Common Pleas and sponsorship of the McKean County Bar Association. In his remarks to the dog owners, Hauser thanked them for participating in this program. A therapy dog, according to CASA, is affectionate to all people and other animals as it provides comfort to children and adults who need emotional support and are teamed with a therapy dog handler. While the dog handlers are not required to be CASA volunteers, they must observe all privacy and confidentiality rules of their cases, and like CASA volunteers, they must pass background checks and have training in offering the animal for assistance purposes and be certified by an organization that insures, registers or certifies therapy dogs and their handlers. The dogs and handlers have been approved for this courthouse dog program by the CASA of McKean County board of directors. Jessica London, CASA advocate
supervisor, said, “With 117 children from the county in the system and 19 active CASA volunteers, the dogs can help to fill in the gaps in courtroom proceedings. Dogs can break barriers that adults can’t.” Using a Power Point presentation, London provided a brief history of the CASA program and the role of CASA volunteers. London said, “The CASA, authorized by the Juvenile Act, serves as the eyes and ears of the court by providing information the judge needs in order to make a decision that is in the child’s best interests.” She said CASA of McKean County began operating in November 2014 with the swearing-in of the first class with nine volunteers in May 2015. Suzy Meyer-Page, CASA of McKean County executive director, said the swearing-in for the current class of volunteers is slated for Dec. 6. CASA of McKean County is a nonprofit organization funded through a variety of private foundations, corporations and individual contributions, grants and the
United Way of Bradford, Smethport and Port Allegany. “Since 2018, we’ve been a line item in the McKean County budget,” London said. Candidates for CASA volunteers must be at least 21 years old and pass the required clearances. Topics covered during the nine-week, 30-hour CASA volunteer training include children protection and the courts, cultural competence, the child’s well being (sense of time), trauma and resilience, communication skills, mental health, poverty, domestic violence/substance abuse and educational advocacy. “A CASA may be appointed as an Educational Decision Maker by the juvenile court if the judge determines it is in the child’s best interest and there is no available parent,” London noted. “We work closely with Children and Youth Services, but a CYS caseworker cannot fulfill this role.” A CASA is assigned to one case at a time with either one child or a sibling group.
Photo by Fran De Lancey CASA of McKean County is launching a therapy dog program. Seated are five of the therapy dog owners: Kolleen Press, Judy Stratton, Deb Cavagnaro, Donna Dombek and Beth Mills. Standing are CASA Executive Director Suzy Meyer-Page, CASA advocate supervisor Jessica London and Judge Christopher Hauser, who initiated the Courthouse Dog Program. Absent is Laura Meyers, who completed the orientation by electronic hookup.
“First, they listen and then they act,” London said. CASA volunteers must be objective, non-judgmental and respectful during interactions with families and professionals. Speaking about the effectiveness of the CASA program, London said children with a CASA spend 7.5 months less in foster care, have fewer out of home placements and show significantly improved educational performance. More than 90 percent of those children with CASA volunteers never re-enter the child welfare system. For more information about this therapy dog program, contact CASA of McKean County 814-568-2170. Donations may be sent to CASA of McKean County at 500 West Main Street, Smethport, PA 16749.
This Sheltie, shown in the McKean County Courthouse, is expected to be one of the canines with the CASA of McKean County Courthouse Dog Program that will provide comfort to children who are participating in court proceedings.
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