Gina McDonnell, the assistant director of CHD’s Court Appointed Special Advocates of Hampden County (CASA), has always been interested in helping people, which is why she earned her bachelor of science degree in Criminal Justice with a concentration in Victim Services Administration at the University of New Haven.

As a college intern she worked at the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office Pre-Release Center in Ludlow helping its victim services coordinator facilitate domestic violence classes.

“I wanted to work with victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and give them a voice, so I started working as a safe house advocate right out of college at the Network Against Domestic Abuse in Enfield, CT,” said the Chicopee native. She answered the organization’s 24-hour crisis hotline and offered direct support for residents of the emergency shelters it provided.

Later, as a family violence victim advocate with the network, she gained court experience with cases out of Rockville, CT Superior Court. “I reached out to the victims to get their input, helped them write victim impact statements, helped them apply for restraining orders, and attended court with them,” she said.

Then she was a court researcher for SJV Data Solutions, a background screening company for employers, which was a remote position, but she missed doing the personal, direct service work for vulnerable populations, so last November she became the assistant director of CHD’s Court Appointed Special Advocates of Hampden County (CASA), which assists Springfield and Holyoke Juvenile Courts—through one-on-one advocacy—to improve stability, opportunities, and permanency outcomes for children in foster care.

CASAs share important information about children involved in each case with presiding judges, including educational, medical, and therapy records, to help them see the full picture. They also meet with other adults involved in the case and make recommendations to protect each child’s mental and physical well-being.

The position has proven to be right up her alley. “CASA stands up for children who don’t have a voice, and it’s great working with the volunteers,” she said. “I’ve been learning a lot from CHD and from the directors of the other CASAs in Massachusetts in virtual meetings. It really motivates me knowing that we’re making a difference. When good outcomes are happening for the kids, and they’re getting the services they need, it really shows that we’re doing what we need to do.”

According to McDonnell, CASA-supported youth are more likely to succeed in school—the advocates ensure children don’t lose vital academic progress or records when moving between different foster homes and schools, “and we make sure that they have access to individualized education programs (IEPs) and accommodations if they need them,” she said.

McDonnell pointed out that CASA volunteers come from many different backgrounds, there are no educational requirements, and familiarity with the legal system isn’t necessary. “We have advocates who are working fulltime and some retired doctors and teachers, and we provide 35-40 hours of very detailed training,” she said.

For those who are interested in volunteering, read about the upcoming information sessions below.

CASA Virtual Info Sessions in June and July:

CHD’s CASA of Hampden County is seeking new volunteers to serve as advocates for children in need in the community.

Staff will host three information sessions in June and July to help prospective volunteers learn more about the role in advance of the next round of training.

During the virtual information sessions, prospective volunteers will learn more about how they can make a vital impact in the lives of foster children in the court system and what they can expect from training. All volunteers are completely supported by CASA staff throughout their training and as they begin taking cases once training is complete. Virtual info sessions will take place on Thursday, June 25, Monday, June 29, and on Tuesday, July 7, all running from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

If you or someone you know may be interested in learning more about becoming an advocate with CASA, learn more at chd.org/casa or register for a virtual info session.