Seven child advocates were sworn in by Judge Boyd on May 2, 2023, after completing 30 hours of pre-service training. They join our team of fifty advocates.
David Wilbert: David has worked for Limerick Power Plant for the past 32 years. David pursued being a CASA because he is concerned about children’s welfare and feels that the CASA program is a real way to make a tangible difference in a child’s life.
Audree Mooney: Audree believes it takes a village to raise a child and is thankful for the people in her life that offered her support. She is passionate about ensuring every child has a voice and that they are well supported.
Juliette Piersody: When asked why she wants to be a CASA, Juliette said, “Having a daughter myself, I want to make a difference in children’s lives. I want to show children there are people who love and care about them.”
Susan Ritter: Over the years, Susan has volunteered for Helping Harvest, Berks Encore, and the American Cancer Society. Susan feels that her experience in nursing and parenthood will give her the empathy and the knowledge to help advocate for a child.
Andrea Gardner: A mother of two and a former counselor at Safe Berks, Andrea shares that she wants to help an often-overlooked population and has a passion for rooting for the underdog. By being a CASA, she hopes to make a tangible difference in the world.
Wayne Bala: When asked why he wanted to become a CASA, Wayne shared that he is passionate about justice for children. When he was a child, one person helped him through terrible times, and this is Wayne’s chance to pay it forward.
Ellen Grossman: As a school nurse, Ellen is passionate about advocating for children’s health and safety. Ellen volunteered to become a child advocate as she wants the opportunity to make a positive impact in children’s lives who are navigating through difficult life circumstances.
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Berks County is a non-profit organization that recruits and trains volunteers as child advocates for the children in Berks County who reside in foster care. It was founded in 2015 under the initiative of Judge Ullman, who saw the need for additional “eyes and ears” on the care of Berks County foster children. Children in foster care who have a CASA volunteer, who is a caring consistent adult in their lives, are more likely to succeed in school, more likely to find a forever home, and half as likely to re-enter the foster care system. There are over 400 children in Berks County who reside in foster care at any one time. The organization’s 50 volunteers advocate for 110 children each year. More information at www.casaberks.org.
