It’s not often that a group is able to demonstrate exactly what kind of an impact it has had on a community.

That’s not the case for A Child’s Place CASA, which recently observed its 25 years in operation. A Child’s Place is one of 939 Court-Appointed Special Advocates programs in the United States, and since it was established in February 2000 it’s contributions to Hancock and Brooke counties have been tremendous.

CASA programs train volunteers to act as advocates for youth involved in abuse and neglect cases, and during the last 25 years, A Child’s Place has trained 106 local residents to do just that, providing guidance and comfort to children going through situations many of us could never imagine.

Those volunteers have helped 2,025 children during that time, which is both wonderful and heartbreaking, especially as Director Rhonda Stubbs notes need for these services locally has been increasing over the years.

There are always opportunities to help in that mission, though.

A Child’s Place currently has 16 volunteer advocates, but a training session is coming up this month for anyone interested in taking on such a responsibility. All such volunteers go through 10 to 15 hours of training, undergo a criminal background check, and must take an oath to keep details of their cases confidential.

This is a difficult role to fill, and takes a special kind of person to do it.

For those who feel they may be unable to do so, there are other volunteer opportunities to assist with things at the office or through community events, and there always are ways to contribute financially, either through a direct donation or by organizing a fundraiser.

A Child’s Place relies on grants and the generosity of the community to meet the non-profit organization’s goals.

CASA and its work is a prime example of “it takes a village,” as communities come together to look out for some of our most vulnerable.

While we wish it was a service that wasn’t needed, we are grateful for those who have stepped forward to provide it.