ST. JOSEPH — The Court Appointed Special Advocate Program of Southwest Michigan has trained six community volunteers to advocate for local foster children. Volunteers will be sworn in by presiding Judge Mabel Mayfield at 4 p.m. Thursday, April 25 on the fourth floor of the Berrien County Courthouse, 811 Port St., St. Joseph.

A Court Appointed Special Advocate Volunteer advocates in the community and courtroom for the best interests of foster children in Berrien County. Volunteers complete an extensive background check and 30 hours of preservice training in the legal system, childhood trauma, neurodevelopment, community resource and general advocacy. They will be sworn as officers of the court and as such will be ready to advocate for some of the more than 300 children in foster care in Berrien County appointed to the program by the court, said program officials.

The local CASA program was formed in July 2016 and since then has trained 41 advocates and served 78 children. Volunteers commit to advocating for their assigned children until they achieve permanency, often in excess of one year.

Since its inception, CASA volunteers have contributed more than 7850 hours of service and driven more than 57,000 miles in service to their children.

Court officials said that their work is integral to help professionals involved in the case recognize what is in the best interests of the child and volunteers work to advocate for those best interests.

This training program was made possible through the support of the Michigan Gateway Foundation and the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Rotary Club Foundation.

To attend this event, or to learn more, those interested may contact Jamie Brooks; jamie@berriencasa.org or (269) 932-3557 (option 2). For more information about CASA, people can visit casaforchildren.org or berriencasa.org