 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 
|
|
 |
||||||||||||||||
|
Bar News - November 7, 2003 News Digest CASA Seeks Volunteers Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of New Hampshire will host two information sessions at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 58 Lowell Street, Nashua, on Monday, Oct. 27 from noon to 1 p.m. and again from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. CASA is currently accepting applications for its fall training classes throughout New Hampshire, and plans to hold a training class in Nashua December 1-5 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CASAs work directly with children, family members, foster-care providers, social workers and the court. They advocate for what is in the best interests of children who have been abused or neglected by their caregivers. CASAs help ensure that the children end up in safe, permanent homes. After completing the training program, CASA volunteers spend approximately 15 hours of their time each month on their cases. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age. Volunteers are expected to commit to the life of their cases, which average 22 months, and need the flexibility to attend court hearings during the workday (on average, five court hearings per year). According to CASA, there are hundreds of children in our state who are forced into the court system as a result of severe neglect or physical, sexual or psychological abuse against them. As the number of these cases rises, so does the need for caring volunteers to assist. "CASA of New Hampshire is dedicated to aiding children by providing volunteers who serve as the voice of reason and advocacy through the child welfare and juvenile court processes," the organization states. "CASA volunteers are ordinary people making an extraordinary difference," said Marcia Sink, founder and executive director of CASA of NH. She explained that CASA provides a comprehensive training program to inform volunteers about courtroom procedures and effective advocacy techniques. Anyone wanting more information about the volunteer work of CASA may attend one of the information sessions or contact Diane Peragine at 1-800-626-0622. Information about the organization can also be found on its Web site at www.casanh.org. Clarification: Some New Hampshire attorneys, paralegals and office assistants currently serve as CASA guardians ad Litem. CASA's policy of not accepting applicants for training who are personally involved in abuse & neglect cases is not intended to exclude attorneys and legal professionals who are involved in these matters in a professional capacity. Reid Resigns as Governor's Counsel Attorney Christopher P. Reid has resigned as Gov. Craig Benson's legal counsel and will leave office this month. Reid has served as the governor's legal counsel and spokesperson since May. He said he will help the governor find another legal counsel and will help with the transition. He will announce his future plans when he leaves the governor's office. "This was a challenging and rewarding job and I am grateful to the governor for giving me the opportunity to serve," Reid said in a prepared statement. "Since I do not plan to stay on for the next legislative session, it makes sense to leave in November so that my replacement has a chance to get up to speed before the next session starts." Reid is the second to resign from the position of legal counsel to the governor and one of nearly a dozen to resign from the governor's staff in recent months. Kelly Ayotte first served as Benson's legal counsel, but she resigned to take a position as deputy attorney general. In a prepared statement, Benson said, "I am sorry to see Chris go. His legal and political experience were invaluable to me during the last legislative session and he will be hard to replace." Prior to joining the governor's staff, Reid opened the Concord office of Preti, Flaherty, Beliveau, Pachios & Haley, a regional law firm headquartered in Portland, Maine. He was previously a law clerk for former Judge Martin F. Loughlin in the U.S. District Court - New Hampshire, and beginning in 1994 worked in the AG's Office, where he became a senior assistant attorney general. In 1996, while on leave from the AG's Office, Reid served as deputy special counsel to the U.S. Committee on Governmental Affairs. He was also associate independent counsel in the investigation of Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt during 1998 and 1999. Reid is a former state representative who represented Dover in the NH House during the 2001 and 2002 sessions.
|
|
Home | About the Bar | For Members | For the Public | Legal Links | Publications | Online Store New Hampshire Bar Association |
