More than a dozen volunteers dedicated to helping children in the court system were sworn in Wednesday.

With the ceremony, the group of 13 officially became Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASAs, having completed 30 hours of classroom training and at least two hours of court observation, according to a release from CASA.

They were sworn in by Judge William O. Carr Wednesday in Harford County Circuit Court.

Volunteers are assigned to the case of a child within the juvenile court system who is ruled in need, based on past abuse or neglect, according to the CASA of Harford website.

They advocate for the best interests of these children in the judicial, educational, medical, and social service systems, the release states.

Last year, CASA of Harford provided an advocate for 88 children, the release states.