The Young Lawyers Division (YLD) of the Chattanooga Bar Association (CBA) on Thursday, Oct. 23 at Clyde’s On Main held a fundraiser to benefit local Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) volunteers.
CASA is a community-based program that recruits, trains, and supports citizen volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in courtrooms. CASA volunteers perform home and school visits, gather records, and do background checks and more to allow a magistrate to make a more informed decision.
“We train ordinary citizens to intervene on behalf of families and children who are coming through the court system as a result of dependency or neglect, or custody or visitation disputes,” said Amy Pedigo, CASA coordinator for the Hamilton County government. “If the magistrate feels CASA could clarify some information, or gather more details, he or she will ask a CASA volunteer to step in. That will allow the magistrate to make a more informed decision when the case comes back to court.”
“CASA is a valuable, objective source of information for the court,” said Magistrate Chris Gott, who attended the fundraiser. “Without them, our job would be much harder to do.”
Ellie Hill, president of the YLD, said the group of attorneys would be spending the money raised on track phones for CASA volunteers to use exclusively while working. “Volunteers sometimes have trouble getting in touch with parents and children because they’ll call from an unknown number, and people won’t answer those,” she said. “If we give them a track phone to use, they’ll be able to provide the parents or children with a phone number they’ll recognize.”
Pedigo likes the idea. She also appreciates the other work the YLD does on behalf of CASA. The night of the fundraiser, lawyers brought dozens of books for restocking the children’s library and padded play area at the Hamilton County Juvenile Court building. In the past, the YLD has donated toys, backpacks, and school materials.
Hill said donations are always being accepted through the CBA. “Earmark your donation for the YLD, and we will use those funds to help CASA meet its needs,” she said.
Send donations to the CBA at “801 Broad St., Chattanooga, TN 37402.”