Mahoning CASA volunteer recognition banquet is Wednesday

Staff report

CANFIELD

The Mahoning County Court Appointed Special Advocates/Guardian ad Litem program’s board of directors will recognize their volunteers at an appreciation breakfast at 8 a.m. Wednesday at A La Cart Catering, 429 Lisbon St.

CASA volunteers advocate for abused and neglected children in the county’s juvenile court. They make written recommendations to the judge or magistrate in court proceedings regarding the child’s best interest.

The volunteers are specially trained compassionate individuals from all walks of life. They investigate the child’s situation and then make a recommendation to the court regarding the child’s placement in a safe, permanent home.

Currently, there are 26 CASA volunteers advocating for 45 children in the county’s juvenile court.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. In 2012, there were 686,000 documented cases of child abuse or neglect in the United States, and 1,640 of those children died. In 2012, 70 children in Ohio died as a result of abuse or neglect.