Twenty new Court Appointed Special Advocates were sworn in on Thursday at the Alexandria Circuit Court, joining a volunteer corps that stands up for children navigating the foster care and court systems.
The Hon. Sean A. Sherlock of the Alexandria Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court administered the oath at the courthouse at 520 King St. The Hon. W. Michael Chick Jr. of the Arlington Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court also addressed the class. Both judges told the volunteers they read the CASA reports first when reviewing a new case file, according to Northern Virginia Family Services, which runs the program.
The cohort of 20 is a notably large group to be sworn in at once, NVFS said. The ceremony capped a comprehensive training process — including 39 hours of coursework — that equips volunteers to serve as a steady presence for children who have been removed from their homes due to neglect, abuse or abandonment. Many CASAs balance the advocacy work with full-time jobs…