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According to CASA’s press
release, “Her selfless dedication and tireless devotion to
advocating for the abused and neglected children of Lucas
County” will be celebrated at a special luncheon at the Lucas
County Juvenile Court on October 31st when Juvenile Court Judges
Denise Navarre Cubbon and Connie Zemmelman will
present her with the Power-of-One Award.
Lucas County CASA Director Carol Martin stated that:
“María González is a CASA treasure. Trained in the fall class of
2001, María has taken 19 cases and served 37 child victims in
the past decade. Her focus is steadfast, her persistence and
diligence on her cases are unmatched. She is an amazing, loving
woman, and we feel fortunate to have her on the CASA team.”
Ms. González, a mother of
three daughters and grandmother of six, is also active in the
Latino community. In 1998 she was honored by the Latino
community, receiving the Diamante Award for being an
outstanding community member. For the past two years she has
served as the Diamante Award’s Event Coordinator. Additionally,
she founded the Puerto Rican Club in 1994 (Club Taino), a
nonprofit organization to promote and share Puerto Rican
culture. Over the years, she has served in various positions and
is once again the club’s president.
González is one of two bilingual CASA volunteers for Lucas
County CASA. Five percent of Lucas County CASA cases involve
Latino families; María is assigned cases in which Spanish is the
family’s native language. She understands that her Spanish is a
tremendous asset. She says she can see the families relax when
she greets them, knowing they can speak to her easily.
She adds that it is more than just language; it’s the culture
she can also relate to. She explains, “I know what is expected
of the children, the parents and the grandparents in the Latino
culture. It is comfortable for me to work with them.”
The mission of CASA is to train volunteer advocates for abused
and neglected children. CASA volunteers interview all the
parties involved in an abuse or neglect case, uncover the facts
of the case, investigate the child’s past and present
circumstances, and make recommendations to the judge about what
should happen to make that child’s life better.
Editor’s Note: A significant need for CASA volunteers, and
especially Spanish speaking volunteers, exists. For information
on becoming a CASA volunteer in Lucas County, visit the Lucas
County CASA website at
www.casakids.net, call the CASA Office at 419-213-6753, or
email
casainfo@co.lucas.oh.us. |
