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CASA of Santa Cruz County recently welcomed three new members to their board of directors. Francisco Ponce, Jenny Veitch-Olson and Leroy Elkin all began their new roles in March. Ponce, a psychologist who has a private practice in Watsonville, worked at Cabrillo College for 37 years. Watsonville resident Veitch-Olson has more than 20 years of experience serving as a youth group leader and mentor to middle and high school students. She currently directs the preschool at United Presbyterian Church of Watsonville. Elkin, a Santa Cruz resident, retired as the VP of Finance at Apple, Inc., after a 25-year career. CASA’s new members join a committed and active board led by Mary Shartle, president; David Fulton, vice president; Lance Wexler, treasurer; and Janis Ost, secretary. About CASA of Santa Cruz County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) screens, trains and professionally supervises caring adult volunteers –more than 1,000 since 1992- to serve as mentors and powerful advocates for more than 1,500 of Santa Cruz County’s most vulnerable children; those who have been severely abused, neglected or abandoned. Each volunteer acts on behalf of one child in the juvenile dependency court system. CASA volunteers develop a one-on-one relationship with the child and also work with attorneys and social workers. They review records, research information, and talk to anyone involved with the child, including parents, extended family members, doctors and teachers. From information gathered, a volunteer presents his or her best recommendations to the judge, for the safety and welfare of his or her CASA child. For more information, please see the website https://casaofsantacruz.org/ SOURCE: Santa Cruz Sentinel, Name Dropping 4/16/2016