Wantage resident sworn in as CASA volunteer

MORRISTOWN — Wantage resident Ralph D’Aries was recently sworn in as a Court Appointed Special Advocates by The Honorable Catherine I. Enright, Presiding Family Court Judge of the Morris/Sussex Vicinage.

CASA of Morris and Sussex Counties, a local non-profit organization, trains and supervises community volunteers to advocate for the best interests of children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse and neglect. The new volunteers have made the extraordinary commitment to “speak up” for these vulnerable children in court and to advocate for them until they reach a permanent home.

The ceremony was held at the Morris County Courthouse in Morristown. Additional volunteers sworn in that day included Aviva Arnuk (Chatham), Michael Dean (Chatham), Ann Stachenfeld (Chatham), Kim Arthur (Madison), Mary Beth Cooney (Madison), Michael Dean (Chatham), Joseph Dunn (West Caldwell), Stephen Dunn (Rockaway), Doren Greene (Mountain Lakes), Patricia MacKenzie (Lake Hiawatha), and Nathaniel Wechsler (Morris Plains).

CASA volunteer advocates participate in an extensive 36-hour training program before officially being sworn in to be assigned to a child in the foster care system. Prior to the swearing in ceremony, volunteers and their guests gathered at the CASA office in Morristown for a welcome reception.

“CASA Volunteers give their time, energy and passion to bring better tomorrows to vulnerable children," CASA Executive Director Lisa Firkser said. "I want to thank our new group of volunteers for taking on this tremendous task. I applaud them for their dedication."