Child Advocates staff has named Nocona resident Wayne as February's Volunteer of the Month. Wayne is a shining example of what it means to be a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA).

Wayne has been named the February Volunteer of the Month by Child Advocates, the CASA program for Archer, Clay, Montague and Wichita counties.

Wayne completed his training and was sworn in as a CASA in August 2007. He was assigned a case involving 3 children that had already been in the child welfare system for 10 months. Wayne dedication to the case is evident, as he has developed a trusting rapport with the children and all of the significant people involved in their lives.

Wayne is retired from the State of Texas Youth Commission and is currently working as a teacher's aide with children who have behavioral problems. His decision to serve as a CASA came after hearing about the organization and wanting to give back to Nocona, the community that has been his hometown for 30 years. "I have always been aware of the hurting children in our community and I wanted to do something to help some of them, to change their lives."

Child Advocates is a non-profit organization whose mission is to empower volunteers to be the voice in court for abused and neglected children. CASA volunteers are appointed by the court to be the Guardian ad Litem for children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect.

The next training class to become a CASA will begin February 25 th. Additional information regarding Child Advocates and the work they do in the surrounding counties is available at www.casawf.org, or by calling 940-766-0552.

(For security purposes, Wayne's last name has been intentionally left out).