Page 22 - South Mississippi Living - August, 2019

COASTNOTES
CASA OF HANCOCK COUNTY
SEEKING VOLUNTEERS
story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster
story by CASA of Hancock County
CASA of Hancock County is seeking volunteers
to advocate for children who have been abused or neglected to ensure that their best interest is preserved in court and in the community. In an effort to find advocates for an increasing number of children in the court system, CASA of Hancock County is offering
an advocate boot camp, which gives volunteers the opportunity to train to be advocates over the course of a few days, rather than attending shorter training sessions over the course of a month.
“This special condensed training session will be held September 19-22,” says Executive Director Cynthia Chauvin. “We are looking for people with the fortitude to advocate for the needs of a child in an over-burdened child welfare system, while also being sensitive enough to be their support system.”
There are no educational requirements to become a Court Appointed Special Advocate, but volunteers must be over the age of 21 and have a passion for the well- being of children. The first step to becoming a CASA advocate is attending a one-hour informational session. Call to RSVP.
AT
story and photo courtesy of Mississippi Aquarium
Immerse your class in the aquatic wonders of the Gulf and beyond with a field trip to the Mississippi Aquarium. Choose from either a self-
guided exploration or book one of the
instruction-led programs aligned with the state’s science standards. Instructor-led field trips include classroom instruction as well as tours of the aquarium alongside education staff.
Pricing for field trips is $15 per student for self-guided tours and $17 per student for instructor-led tours and include: Complimentary admission for one teacher per classroom
15 percent discount per ticket for parents
and guardians accompanying the class (only teachers and students are allowed in classrooms) Boxed lunches available for purchase with advanced notification
Personalized t-shirts with your school name are available for pre-purchase
A visit to the Mississippi Aquarium promotes curiosity of the natural world and fosters conservation in the community by focusing on content specific topics, such as life cycles, ecology and symbiosis. The aquarium
will provide a custom itinerary specific to each group’s needs and share additional teacher resources, including article analysis or writing prompts.
Field Trip Booking
228.205.0536 sales@msaquarium.org
CASA of Harrison and Jackson Counties are also seeking volunteer advocates. Contact your local CASA office to learn more.
22 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • August 2019
FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net
UPCOMING INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS:
August 1, 5:30 p.m. August 9, 11 a.m. August 14, 5:30 p.m. August 19, 2 p.m. August 29, 10 a.m. September 3, 5:30 p.m.
CASA of Hancock County
644 Dunbar Ave., Bay St. Louis 228.344.0419 www.casahancockcounty.org