County has new child advocates
By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com

Fifteen new Court Appointed Special Advocates were sworn in earlier recently.

Each advocate, or CASA, will become a mentor to and the voice of a child in court who has been removed from the care of their parents because of abuse or neglect.

CASA is a program of nonprofit Interface Children Family Services and the only one of its kind in Ventura County.

The advocate will get to know the child and offer insight to Juvenile Dependency Court Judge Tari Cody, who must make vital decisions about the child's future.

Cody swore in the three men and 11 women, thanking them for giving their time and efforts to children throughout the county who need them.

The volunteers range in age from 23 to 67. Four live in Simi Valley, and the rest are residents of Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo and Westlake Village. One is a college professor; several are retired; others have families; and some work full- or part-time jobs.

Jessica Fredrickson of Ventura is married, works in retail sales and attends community college. Fredrickson said she'll make time in her schedule to advocate for a child.

"This is a priority to me, so it will take precedence over other things," said the 23-year-old who plans a law career someday.

Simi Valley resident Lehti Chafee is a fulltime mother of 4year-old twins, a 16-year-old daughter and 25-year old son. She was inspired to become a CASA volunteer by an 11-year old boy.

Chafee learned about the difficulties the boy has faced in court and how he was helped by a CASA volunteer. Chafee's son mentors the boy through the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County.

"I think being an advocate for a child is a wonderful thing," said Chafee, who's in her 40s. "They need someone to speak up for them."

Henry Valdez of Oxnard is a 35-year-old father of daughters age 10 and 17, who works fulltime at an auto body shop in Westlake Village.

Valdez said he wants to convey a sense of hope to the child he advocates for, that there's light at the end of the tunnel and that life won't always be so turbulent.

For more information about becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate, call Sandi White, program director, at (805) 4856114, ext. 609.