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CASA is a program that trains and supervises \u201cdiverse volunteers who serve as advocates for children involved in court proceedings primarily as the result of abuse and\/or neglect,\u201d according to the organization\u2019s website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a volunteer, Swart stated that she quickly fell in love with the organization and the level of assistance they provide to the children and families they represent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI went from understanding that it was a wonderful volunteer-driven organization to really learning how to appreciate the complexity and depth of the work,\u201d she stated. \u201cThings such as the importance of those of us in the organization being persistent, showing empathy, and meeting families where they\u2019re at. I also saw how those things really translated over to being a force for this impactful and incredible organization.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the executive director, Swart and her staff serve over 250 children a year with an average of 60 volunteers, according to the nonprofit\u2019s website. The site also states that Wilson County CASA is part of a national CASA and state network, extending child advocacy services across the country through 951 programs in 49 states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A dream job for Swart, she is thankful for the path that led her to CASA. She invites others to join an organization that she feels is life-changing for all involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t need a certain set of qualifications; just be present, care, and want to stand for vulnerable children,\u201d said Swart. \u201cWe make sure our volunteers have everything they need. The match between volunteer and child is amazing. We can watch all these amazing things unfold because of it. I get chills every time I think about it because I didn\u2019t believe it until I started living it.\u201d GN<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" MOST OF us know the saying, \u201cIt takes a village.\u201d A well-known African proverb, it\u2019s often used when discussing the care of children. The concept of the phrase is that no individual succeeds or thrives in isolation \u2014 everyone benefits from the care, wisdom, and guidance of others. It would seem that when such a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":22675,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22673","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories"],"yoast_head":"\n