CASA volunteers lauded for their giving spirits 

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From the left, Tom Reynolds, Nancy Harman, Dennis Blank and Diana Fessler are sworn in for service in the Court Appointed Special Advocates program Tuesday afternoon by Judge Kim Kellogg-Martin, far right, with Judge Natasha Kennedy holding the Bible. Fellow CASA volunteers Narianna Petty and Angie Conaway were unable to attend, but were honored as well. (EXAMINER PHOTO | Mandy Loehr) 

A group of volunteers were sworn into service for the new year in their important role in the Court Appointed Special Advocates program Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 28, at the Logan County Courthouse. 

“These are people who are really generous with their time and have huge hearts,” Logan County Family Court Judge Kim Kellogg-Martin said prior to administering the oaths alongside Judge Natasha Kennedy.

Two individuals are new to the program, Diana Fessler and Narianna Petty, and the remaining volunteers are continuing their dedicated service to benefit the welfare of area children — Tom Reynolds, Dennis Blank, Nancy Harman and Angie Conaway. 

Court-appointed special advocate (CASA) and guardian ad litem (GAL) volunteers come from all walks of life and advocate for the best-interests of children who have experienced abuse or neglect. 

Volunteers work with child welfare professionals, educators and service providers to ensure that judges have the information they need to make the most well-informed decisions for each child. 

There are almost 950 state organizations and local programs in 49 states and the District of Columbia, with more than 96,000 volunteers nationwide, according to https://ohiocasa.org/. 

Judge Kellogg-Martin noted Logan County’s CASA Program had previously disbanded, but it was through the efforts of Blank, a retired pharmacist, that CASA was brought back to Logan County in 2015. Blank said he had previously volunteered with the program in Clark County and knew it needed to be reinstated here locally. 

Among the other volunteers also include a retired teacher, Harman, who taught for 43 years and said she heard about the program through her cousin, who serves with the Lima CASA chapter. 

A former foster parent, Fessler also is a retired state legislator, representing the 79th District in Ohio from 2000-2008, and was a state board of education member from 1995-2000 and the co-founder of the Education Action Council.  

Bellefontaine resident Reynolds said he read about the opportunity to volunteer with CASA years ago in the Examiner and it sparked his interest. He previously helped to start an orphanage in Romania, he said during volunteer introductions during the ceremony. 

Danielle Oder, who is working in an interim role running the Logan County CASA program, was honored during the short ceremony as well for stepping up to the plate to fill this spot. She is the Ohio CASA/GAL director of training and related that volunteers are still very much needed in this vital role. Currently in Ohio, more than 16,000 children are in foster or kinship care.

After volunteers complete a screening process, including a background check, they are required to complete a 30-hour preservice training and then they are sworn in for service. 

The amount of time needed to serve as a Court Appointed Special Advocates can vary on a case by case basis and is based upon the volunteer’s availability and their individual schedule, Oder said. 

For more information or to sign up for the program, e-mail casa@logancountyohio.gov, visit ohiocasa.org, or “CASA of Logan County” on Facebook.

Danielle Oder, left, who is working in an interim role running the Logan County CASA program, was honored Tuesday by Logan County Family Court Judges Kim Kellogg-Martin and Natasha Kennedy. (EXAMINER PHOTO | Mandy Loehr)