CASA of Lancaster and Lebanon urges volunteers as Lebanon program serves 26 children

Representatives of CASA of Lancaster and Lebanon Counties told a Lebanon County meeting that their local program is serving 26 children in Lebanon County with 19 active advocates and appealed for more volunteers and board members.

Aaron Smoot, training and recruitment coordinator for CASA of Lancaster and Lebanon Counties, described CASA's origins and mission, saying the program began in 1977 to provide "a voice of the child" in dependency court. "CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates," Smoot said, and the network now supports hundreds of local programs nationwide.

Kristen Antrim, Lebanon County program specialist, provided local statistics: across Lancaster and Lebanon counties CASA has "114 volunteers assigned to 219 children," and in Lebanon County specifically "we are serving 26 children in Lebanon County by 19 active advocates." She said referrals come from Children and Youth, judges and outside placement agencies and that the program recently had to decline a judge's request because it lacked available advocates.

Presenters described how volunteers operate under a "best-interest advocacy" model that focuses on a child's educational, medical and day-to-day needs rather than casework aimed solely at reunification. Antrim said volunteers visit assigned children at least once every 30 days, collect information from teachers, medical staff and resource parents, and submit written reports to the court before six-month review hearings. "Our court order gives us access to pretty much anyone associated with that child's care," she said.

The group outlined screening and training requirements for new advocates: multiple background clearances and 30 hours of pre-service training delivered across a seven-week program, with three training classes offered annually (two in Lancaster, one in Lebanon). Smoot said the Lebanon training class will start in May and encouraged residents to apply.

Speakers acknowledged emotional challenges for volunteers and described support systems. Each volunteer is assigned a volunteer manager who provides close supervision, helps with court paperwork and offers emotional support; advocates are also required to complete 12 hours of in-service training each year and may attend quarterly peer troubleshooting sessions. "We pay close attention to how they're doing with their own mental health and self-care," Antrim said.

On scope and duration, presenters said CASA serves children of all ages (from infants to teenagers). Volunteers are asked to remain with a case until it reaches permanency (reunification, adoption, permanent legal custodianship or other stable placement), which Smoot said averages about 18 to 24 months but varies by case. They noted placement pressures in Lebanon County: presenters cited roughly 22 licensed foster homes in the county and said many older youth are placed out of county.

Funding for the local program is mixed, presenters said. Smoot said national CASA and the state PA CASA provide limited support but the majority of funding for Lancaster-Lebanon CASA comes from private donors; he asked the public to consider financial contributions and to spread awareness.

Presenters also announced recruitment and outreach events: a free community happy hour on April 23, a community breakfast on April 10 in Lancaster at 8 a.m., and the annual gala in September. Jeremy Stoll, the lone Lebanon County board member on the Lancaster-Lebanon CASA board, said the organization is seeking additional board members from Lebanon County to strengthen local representation.

The presentation ended with materials distributed to attendees and an invitation to follow up for those interested in volunteering or donating. No formal action or vote was taken at the meeting.