Okarche native and longtime Kingfisher County social worker Heather Jones started work last week as volunteer coordinator for the Court Appointed Special Advocates program.

Jones will serve as coordinator for Blaine and Kingfisher counties as part of the program for the Fourth Judicial District, operated out of Garfi eld County.

CASA is a nationwide program recently requested for the county by Associate District Judge Lance Schneiter.

Trained volunteers are assigned to be an additional set of eyes and ears in deprived children cases in Kingfisher County District Court.

Volunteers meet monthly with the children assigned to them, their parents, teachers, counselors and others with relevant information and then make written and verbal reports to the court.

Jones’ responsibilities include recruiting, training and supervising volunteers.

She’ll meet with each volunteer individually to discuss cases assigned to them, help them draft written court reports and accompanying them to court hearings.

The daughter of Donnie and Cissie Endres of Okarche, Jones brings to the table more than 11 years in social work experience at the Kingfi sher County Department of Human Services, working in child welfare and family support functions.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in human environmental science from the University of Central Oklahoma and a master’s degree in general education.

She’s also worked for five years at the Kingfi sher County OSU Extension Offi ce.

Jones lives in Okarche with her two sons, Dawson 18, and Cy, 14.

The newly established Kingfisher County CASA program is seeking at least eight volunteers, but will train as many as qualify.

Volunteers are required to undergo background checks and will participate in local training in January.

Anyone interested in volunteering can contact the CASA office at (580)242-1153 or visit the website at thecarecampus.com.

CASA also is looking for leads on local office space in Kingfi sher.

Jones was being trained last week by Sara Peck, CASA program director from Enid.