BELLEVUE - Eighteen people were sworn in as Sarpy County CASA volunteers Monday afternoon, the largest incoming class in the history of the program.

Court Appointed Special Advocates is a nationwide organization committed to working with children whose welfare is assigned to court jurisdiction. Program volunteers work with the children, monitor their situations and draw up reports for juvenile court judges weighing a course of action.

Georgie Scurfield, director of Sarpy CASA, said the large volunteer class sworn in Monday by Juvenile Court Judge Robert O’Neal, continues the trend of the past two years.

“Ten years ago, we had 50 volunteers,” she said. “We now have 110, so we’re growing very fast, but it’s all been in the last two years.

“During the last six months we’ve had 75 volunteer applications.”

About one applicant in four eventually becomes a CASA volunteer, Scurfield said, with the majority declining an appointment as the scope of the responsibility becomes clear.

“People need to think about it and know what they’re getting into,” she said.