BETH CARDINA NAMED CASA/GAL DIRECTOR

Summit County Juvenile Court Judge Linda Tucci Teodosio announced today that Beth Cardina has begun her duties as Director of the Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Program.  

Ms. Cardina comes to the Court after 19 years at the Children Services Board. There, she worked as an Intake and Protective Social Worker, Foster and Adoption Assessor and Trainer and Community Education Manager. 

Ms. Cardina, a West Akron resident, received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Individual and Family Life Studies from Kent State University in 1988 and earned her Licensed Social Worker designation in 1991. 

The mission of the Court’s CASA/GAL Program is to recruit, train and support volunteers who provide a voice for abused and neglected children in Court. As a party in the proceedings, it is the role of the CASA/GAL child advocate to provide investigation, assessment, recommendations, monitoring and advocacy in order to assist the Court in making decisions in the best interest of children. 

Ms. Cardina will oversee a staff of 22 and a CASA/GAL volunteer base of nearly 300 people. 

“I feel that Beth’s work in the area of volunteer recruitment, training and retention as well as her extensive community outreach background makes her an ideal choice for the job,” said Judge Teodosio. “I know that the CASA Board was very impressed with Beth and that played a key role in the decision to hire her. I am thrilled we were able to bring in someone of her caliber to lead the CASA/GAL Program.”