—Submitted photo Cheryl Schmitz, left, with Judge Adria Kester.

Cheryl Schmitz, a resident of Fort Dodge, is a new  Court Appointed Special Advocate Program volunteer.

Schmitz was sworn in by the Honorable Judge Adria Kester on Dec. 16. As a CASA, she will advocate for abused and neglected children in Calhoun, Hamilton, Webster and Pocahontas counties and serve as their voice in court. This is familiar territory for Schmitz, who worked as a social worker for the Iowa Department of Human Services for many years.

Becoming a CASA volunteer requires background checks and training. Any community member who would like to learn more about this opportunity should contact CASA Program Coordinator Crystal Engstrom at crystal.engstrom@dia.iowa.gov or 866-923-1088.

For those who may not be able to volunteer their time, CASA of Iowa appreciates any donations. Checks should be made payable to Renwick CASA and mailed to the Iowa Child Advocacy Board at 333 130th St, Renwick, IA 50577.