The Friends of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)-Hawaii seeks volunteers to be trained as advocates for abused and neglected children in the Hawaii Family Court system.

A training program on Maui will begin in June.

After completing the training, volunteers will be certified by the Hawaii State Judiciary to serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates for at-risk children.

Ken Bailey, president of the Friends of CASA-Hawaii, noted, “You will become a powerful voice in a child’s life. You will represent and advocate for the child’s best interests by submitting written recommendations and attending court hearings.

“CASA volunteers come from all walks of life,” he continued. “Over half of our volunteers work full-time.”

Bailey explained that in Hawaii’s overwhelmed social welfare system, abused and neglected children “often slip through the cracks among hundreds of current cases.

“CASA volunteers change that.”

Court Appointed Special Advocates typically handle one case at a time – and stay on that case until the child is placed in a safe, permanent home.

“While others may come and go, CASA volunteers provide the one constant that a child needs in order to thrive,” Bailey concluded.

For information on the training and program, call 244-2729 or visit www.CASAHawaii.org.