Juvenile Court Judge Matthew L. Gilmore, far left, swears in the first group of Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) in Mercer County on Monday. The aim of the newly-formed CASA program is to "help children emerge from the trauma of abuse and neglect to an environment where they can thrive." The nine volunteers include Chuck Meyer, New Bremen, Deb Hemmelgarn, St. Henry; Nikki Hemmelgarn, Coldwater; and Beth Smalley, Angela Gibbons, Lisa Post, Sandy Dieringer, Tannar Rutschilling and Ted Bertke, all of Celina. The swearing-in ceremony was the final step after thirty-hours of pre-service training.