CASA honors volunteers for their work with children

Provided photo: Jon and Alena Winters were guest speakers during a volunteer appreciation lunch on April 18 for CASA.

Press Release, Court Appointed Special Advocates

BATAVIA – In April, Court Appointed Special Advocates celebrated the volunteers that serve the agency by organizing a special event on April 18 in honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month.

The event was graced by special guest speakers, Jon and Alena Winters, who are experts in mindfulness practices and life coaching. They took the audience through a series of interactive and engaging exercises, including breath awareness, body awareness, and sensory awareness exercises.

The exercises were aimed at helping the attendees find balance and inner peace in their lives when feeling overwhelmed or stuck. The highlight of the event was the Circle of Life exercise, which allowed the group to reflect on their unique needs and values, and how they could align their lives with them. For more information about the Winters, check their website empoweryoucoachsulting.com.

Jennifer Metz, the executive director of CASA for Children, expressed her gratitude towards Jon and Alena for their time and expertise, which greatly benefitted the attendees. The event was a huge success, and attendees left feeling rejuvenated and empowered.

CASA is a local nonprofit based in Batavia with a purpose to train and supervise a diverse group of advocates for children who have been abused and/or neglected. These children are at risk of being removed from their homes or have already been placed into the foster care system.

CASA aims to ensure that these children have safe and permanent homes as quickly as possible. A child who has a CASA is half as likely to re-enter the foster care system, more likely to succeed in school, and more likely to find a safe, permanent home.

“Even though not all children are safe and cared for in this world, we are determined to change this reality,” said Jennifer Metz, CASA executive director. “We are constantly recruiting new advocates who are passionate and committed to making a difference in the lives of these children. With our collective efforts, we are confident in our ability to create a safer and more nurturing environment for all children.”