NORWICH – Even if they only help one child, five special volunteers will have made a world of difference, judicial and social services officials said Tuesday.

Marian Banner, Elaine DeVoust, Patricia Smith and Lauri Arnold of Sidney, and Patricia Hanson of Bainbridge, are now part of the Court Appointed Special Advocate program. The program started last June through Catholic Charities and the Dispute Resolution Centers of Chenango and Otsego counties. Working with families, attorneys, judges, counselors and community members, the advocates’ ultimate goal is to ensure that children from broken homes have every opportunity to live in a positive and permanent setting, hopefully with, but possibly without, their families.

“I have seen children in situations like this,” said Pat Hanson of Bainbridge, a school teacher in Sidney for 37 years who, along with the four others from the Tri-Town area, was sworn in Tuesday as a new CASA for Chenango County. “As a teacher, you can do a lot to change a child’s life. After I retired, I decided it was time to give something more.”

CASAs – there are a total of 11 serving the county – are officers of the court. They are assigned cases involving neglect and abuse, and required to review court records and related information. The volunteers must also interview attorneys, judges, social workers, teachers, family members, parents, and children. Eventually these volunteers will submit a final report and testimony to the court, which will aid a judge in deciding the best outcome for the child, or children, in question.

“I’ve heard stories about kids getting lost in the system,” said Lauri Arnold of Sidney. “I think they need another voice.”

Arnold has always enjoyed volunteering, she said, adding that the thought of helping children who desperately need it is exciting.