Elgin resident selected as youth advocate

Court Appointed Special Advocates of Bastrop, Fayette and Lee Counties announced its selection of four new CASA volunteers on May 30, including one representative of Elgin.

Elgin resident Kinsey Shackelford was chosen alongside Marcy Moore, Julie Powell and Shelbi Palmer, as an appointed advocate for children in abuse/neglect foster care court cases.

CASA volunteers are screened, trained and appointed by judges to represent and advocate for a youth’s best interest in the child protection system. They will build a relationship with children and help bear the burden that they go through while working through the court system and adapting to new home environments. The advocates fight for a child’s best interest and can act as a muchneeded voice amidst the chaos they often feel, CASA states.

Throughout Shackelford’s volunteer career, she will be assigned to cases involving one or more children and become a part of their life for the better. She will potentially know both biological and foster care parents, spend quality time with the child and help them balance school and social responsibilities.

Acting as a CASA volunteer is an extremely powerful and moving experience, other advocates said.

For more information and links to apply, visit https://casabfl.org.