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Date: FRI 10/13/00 Section: A Page: 35 Edition: 3 STAR Child Advocates seeks volunteers to fill desperate need By JO ANN ZUNIGA Staff Photos of a badly beaten 12-year-old girl showed the worst case of child abuse that psychologist Yvonne Habet had ever seen, but she said in a relieved tone Thursday that a Child Advocates volunteer will be the girl's guide in the coming year. Habet, who works with Child Advocates Inc., praised the nonprofit group that shepherds abused and neglected children through the court and foster-care system. "This agency is here because no one else speaks for the child ," Habet said. But, she added, the group does not put all the responsibility on volunteers. The group works in partnership with Harris County Children's Protective Services. Child Advocates is in the middle of a recruitment drive, trying to boost the number of volunteers to at least 206 from the current 154, said spokeswoman Maya Coverson. An orientation Thursday drew only two people. Only 20 recruits are registered for an intensive-training class that begins Saturday; more than 100 have attended the classes in the past. Volunteers are assigned only one case, so they can focus on meeting with the children, parents, foster family, teachers and anyone else who could give them more information on what the children need. As many as 90 percent of the volunteers have full-time jobs in addition to volunteering, Coverson said. Of the 3 ,800 children in CPS custody last year, Coverson said, only about 1,550 had Child Advocates volunteers. "We're serving about a third of the kids, but we'd love to serve all the kids," she said. The two potential volunteers who showed up for Thursday's orientation sat through an hour-long presentation and said afterward that they definitely were interested in volunteering. Chris Daw, a 40-year-old mother of two, said she had recently moved here from Seattle and was looking for ways to get involved in the community. With a master's degree in public health and not yet employed, Daw said Child Advocates seemed to be a good fit for her. Rosie Hernandez, a 33-year-old marketing spokeswoman for the Houston Astros, said she and her husband were planning to have a family in the future. "But for now, we want to give all the love we have to these children, for our children we don't have yet," the native of Puerto Rico said. "Plus, there's a very big need for bilingual volunteers, so I would like to work with Hispanic kids." Hernandez heard about Child Advocates through a public-service announcement on the radio and from an outreach invitation through the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The invitation noted that 30 percent of the children in protective custody are Hispanic. "I didn't need a third sign," she said. "I knew this is what I need to do." Volunteers must be at least 21 years old, have a personal car, attend training on one Saturday and six evenings, and must commit to the child for one year. "We ask for a year because the advocate needs to be a constant in the child 's life," Coverson said. "CPS caseworkers have a high turnover rate, and a child is placed in an average of four foster homes." On average, an advocate only goes to court on behalf of the child twice, although complex cases could require more appearances. "You are basically the eyes and ears for the judge, an impartial third party," said Child Advocates spokeswoman Rebecca Becerra. There are also happier times. For example, a holiday party is planned for the children and volunteers at the downtown Hyatt Regency. "One little boy said that was the happiest day in his life, because no one had ever done anything like that for him," Coverson said. The remaining orientations for interested volunteers will be from 6 to 7 p.m. at Child Advocates ' offices at 2515 West Main on Oct. 24, Nov. 7, Nov. 21, Dec. 5 and Dec. 19. Those interested can call Child Advocates at 713-529-1396.
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