Edhat Staff
CASA of Santa Barbara County is pleased to announce that a new member has joined their team to help the many children in our community facing abuse and/or neglect. With nearly 300 children being served and a waiting list of more than 80, Don Deming is ready to help our volunteers be the voice for a child in need.
Deming joins CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) with 28 years of experience in law enforcement, where he saw first-hand the importance for CASA volunteers. He holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice, a Master’s degree in Public Administration, and is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy. After retiring from police work, Deming chose to make the natural transition to work for CASA. He knew of CASA’s ability to actively find solutions and remedies to help abused or neglected children in the community, and was inspired to get involved. “I’m excited to get to know my CASA volunteers. To be among men and women who work diligently in support of true victims in our communities, and to work with people who volunteer their time to guide, mentor, and support those young people is a privilege in itself,” says Deming. With his unique experience and perspective, the CASA volunteers will be better able to serve the Santa Barbara community.
CASA of Santa Barbara County hopes to ensure that every child in need has a CASA volunteer by his/her side by 2018. As an Advocate Supervisor, Don Deming will be working with the CASA volunteers to be a voice for a child in court. CASA volunteers have the important role of making sure that the children’s needs are best taken care of and helps them find a safe, permanent home. “As CASA of Santa Barbara County has grown with the specific goal of serving every abused and/or neglected child, we have made the commitment to providing our volunteer force with a diverse and highly competent team to support them” adds Kim Colby Davis, Executive Director. “The addition of Don Deming to our group of highly skilled advocate supervisors certainly accomplishes our goal. Don brings a wealth of experience and an enthusiasm for our work. Our volunteers will find him a joy to work with!”
About CASA of Santa Barbara County
CASA, which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates, trains volunteers who are sworn in by a juvenile court judge to help ensure abused or neglected children find a safe, permanent home as quickly as possible. The role of a CASA volunteer is to act as an extra pair of eyes and ears for the court, collecting information through observation and interviews with key people in the child’s life before reporting back to the judge.
A CASA volunteer advocate speaks on behalf of the child in court. The volunteer meets with the child, family members, teachers, foster parents, and others involved in a foster child’s life. The volunteer gathers facts for the court and presents information before a judge in the best interest of the child.
Volunteers complete an application process which includes a screening interview, background and reference checks, and 30 hours of pre-service training. After completion of the pre-service training, volunteers are sworn in as officers of the court. This gives them the legal authority to conduct research on the child’s situation and submit reports to the court.
For more information, contact Crystal Moreno at (805) 357-2594 or email crystal@sbcasa.org.
