CHARLES TOWN, WV (May 6, 2024) –To better serve the children who have experienced abuse and neglect in Jefferson County, Court Appointed Special Advocates of the Eastern Panhandle (CASA-EP) opened a new office location in Charles Town, West Virginia. Elected officials, community leaders, the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, and local business owners joined CASA-EP for this grand opening.
With offices currently in Berkeley and Morgan Counties, this new office will allow the organization to better support the growing numbers of abuse and neglect cases in Jefferson County, due in large part to the opioid and substance use crisis. This office will offer convenience to the dedicated group of CASA volunteers who spend countless hours in the courtroom representing the needs of our community’s most vulnerable children. It will also provide much-needed program expansion space for the organization.
Located directly across from the Charles Town courthouse, the new office includes a reunification room for children and families. Sarah Pauletti, Director of Volunteer & Case Management, explains the importance of such a space.
“Having a safe space where children can spend time with their parents brings comfort to the children and a sense of hope to the parents,” says Pauletti. “Even though these children were removed from their homes for reasons of abuse or neglect, they still very much want to see their parents, and our reunification room affords everyone that opportunity.”
The new office will also offer dedicated space to the organization’s growing Fostering Futures program, an initiative that supports youth 13+ who are on track to “age out” of foster care, build the life and workforce development skills needed to successfully transition to young adulthood.
Michelle Sudduth, Executive Director of CASA-EP, expressed her gratitude to CASA volunteers, board members, and local community and business leaders. She highlighted the crucial role of the business community in CASA-EP’s growth, stating, “We are serving more children because the business community has stepped up and provided more sponsorship support and that makes a huge difference.”
Echoing the sentiments of the impact of the local business community was Amy Panzarella, Amy Panzarella, LLC (HR Consultant and Leadership Coach), who sits on the boards of CASA-EP and the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce.
“Having a physical presence here in Jefferson County will help build awareness and curiosity of the CASA-EP mission and the critically important services they are providing,” shared Panzarella. “We look forward to strengthening the relationship with the business community and expanding our network of volunteers.”
The community can support the children by contributing to their new toy and book drive (https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/2V73YDCVY6N3T) or visiting www.mycasaep.org for volunteer and sponsorship opportunities.
About CASA-EP
CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. They are volunteers who are appointed by judges to advocate on behalf of children who have come to the attention of the court system due to abuse or neglect. Additional programs support family reunification efforts and help youth aging out of the foster care system prepare for young adulthood. To find more information about becoming a CASA-EP volunteer or benefactor, visit www.mycasaep.org.
