Child Advocates of SW Connecticut (CAC), a Fairfield County-based non-profit organization that trains and supervises volunteer advocates for vulnerable children, is honoring Greenwich residents Linda Camel and Laura More for outstanding volunteer advocacy.
CAC volunteers are a consistent, caring presence in a child’s life and advocate for the child’s best interests in the community, school and courtroom. Volunteer advocates get to know a child one-on-one and speak with people who touch the child’s life – families, foster families, teachers, doctors, social workers, therapists, and attorneys. CAC volunteer advocates complete 35 hours of training and are supervised by CAC staff.
Honoree Lindy Camel describes, “The CAC program allows me to develop a personal connection with the child, where I can be a consistent, safe, available adult — both a shoulder and a resource. I connect with the “team” around the child. It’s creative, it’s putting together resources and options and helping map out a path forward. I have been to foster homes, school meetings, graduations, court hearings, college registrations, and helped to open a first bank account, give job references, make summer camp placements, identify school and sport vacation programs. It is possible to do something every day that makes a difference for someone, one-to-one, and that’s a good thing for our children and our community.”
Stacey Sobel, Executive Director of CAC, said, “CAC is thrilled to honor our incredible volunteers. Vulnerable children have suffered disproportionately during the COVID pandemic, and our volunteers have done a tremendous job ensuring needs are being met.”
To offset funds normally raised at CAC’s annual Love Luncheon, CAC has organized “The Gift that Gives” an on-line campaign honoring CAC volunteers.
Visit www.ctchildadvocates.org to view a video featuring the moving story of a youth and his volunteer advocate, to post a tribute to our incredible volunteers, or to donate.
About CAC: Child Advocates of SW Connecticut (CAC) is a non-profit that transforms the lives of vulnerable children and youth by providing trained and supervised one-on-one volunteer advocates.
About CAC volunteer advocates:
• Over 165 CAC volunteer advocates have donated their time and talent since 2010.
• CAC volunteers work one-on-one to get to know a child and work to ensure that the physical, psychological, educational, and emotional needs of the child are addressed. CAC works closely with judges and community providers in the hopes of meeting the needs of every child in the community and court system.
• Volunteer advocates reduce by 50% the chance that a child will spend time in long-term foster care.
• Volunteer advocates increase the likelihood that a child and his or her family receive needed services.
• Volunteer advocates reduce the number of traumatic transitions for the child BY HALF
The Greenwich Sentinel received this as a press release. The Greenwich Sentinel news department was not involved in the creation of this content.
