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Mahoning County CASA
Mission and VISION STATEMENTS

Mission Statement

The Mission of the Mahoning County Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian Ad Litem Program is:

• To provide a volunteer’s voice for abused and neglected children in juvenile dependency proceedings.

• To advocate for the best interests of the children regarding their placement, care, protection and development in a safe, secure and caring environment.

Vision Statement

• To have every abused and neglected child in association with the Mahoning County Juvenile Court receive a CASA volunteer to ensure that the best interests of the child are met and to increase public awareness of CASA and its mission.

Statistics*

Every year, nearly 3 million children are abused and neglected in the United States.
Ohio had nearly 50,000 substantiated reports of abuse and neglect in 2003.

Over the past 3 years...

• Over 68 Ohio children died as a result of abuse and neglect
• There were over 500 cases of abuse, neglect and dependency filed in the Mahoning County Court system
• Over 133 abused and neglected children in Mahoning County were assigned a CASA/GAL volunteer to make sure they were not "lost in the system" and that their voice was heard.

The Program Statistics from 1/1/89 - 7/21/09 are as follows:

• Children Assigned - 1,394
• Cases Closed - 1,042
• Hours Volunteered - 38,230
• Trained CASA/GAL's - 251
• Current CASA Volunteers - 35

How you can help

Request a Speaker

A representative from the Mahoning County CASA/GAL Program would be pleased to come to your association, group, or business to discuss the role played by the CASA/GAL volunteer in the court system and the positive impact volunteers make on the lives of abused and neglected children.

Please contact Mahoning County CASA to request a speaker and learn how you too can "speak up for a child ".

The Mahoning County CASA/GAL Program needs your help to make sure that each and every abused and neglected child is given the advantage of a trained CASA/GAL volunteer so that their voice is heard.

The power of volunteers to change the lives of children!

*Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth and Families. Child Maltreatment 2003. (Washington, DC, Government Printing Office, 2005).

Composite Report form for the Entire State, Ohio Court of Common Pleas - Juvenile Division.

Biography for Renee Battafarano

Executive Director of Mahoning County CASA/GAL Program

Renee Battafarano has been the Executive Director of the Mahoning County Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Program since 1989. Renee overseas staff and volunteers of the CASA Program at Juvenile Court and sits on the Board of Directors in an advisory capacity.

Renee has a Bachelors degree in Sociology with a minor in Psychology and Criminal Justice. Prior to the appointment of Executive Director of the CASA/GAL Program she was a Psychology and Career Development Instructor.

Renee speaks regularly to local service organizations and professional groups on the plight of abused and neglected children. Renee has also been a speaker and planner for yearly CASA conferences on the legal issues and the roles of the CASA Volunteer. Our CASA Program has been a member of the National CASA Association since 1994 and Renee served as their Board Vice Chairman for several years.

Renee attends national and state conferences yearly to remain current with law changes and new information available to CASA programs and their volunteers.