Four new Court Appointed Special Advocates have joined CASA of Southeast Missouri after completing 30 hours of special training and a swearing-in ceremony where volunteers take an oath to do their best to protect the rights of the abused and neglected children they will defend in Cape Girardeau, Bollinger and Perry Counties.

The volunteers will serve as advocates under the jurisdiction of the 32nd Judicial Circuit Juvenile Court. CASAs strive to ensure children's immediate and long-term needs while in foster care and work to secure a healthy, permanent placement for children through investigation, mediation, reporting and monitoring.

There are more than 50,000 CASA volunteers and 500,000 children in foster care nationwide. For more information on becoming an advocate, call 335-1726 or visit www.capecasa.com.