CASA press release
The Texas Bar Foundation has awarded a $2,850 grant to CASA of Trinity Valley to foster volunteer recruitment in its three-county service area.
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is a nonprofit that trains community volunteers who speak in court for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the foster care system. CASA volunteers get to know the children and become their voice in court.
“CPS caseworkers, though hardworking and passionate about what they do, are often assigned dozens of children to supervise at once,” said Emily Heglund, CASA resource development officer. “CASA volunteers get to know only one child or sibling group at a time and can help ensure that these kids don’t fall through the cracks.”
The Texas Bar Foundation grant will help CASA attract new volunteers in Henderson, Anderson and Cherokee counties. In 2015, CASA advocates served 720 children in this service area.
“The need for volunteers is dire, especially in Anderson and Cherokee counties,” Heglund said. “Children continue to come into foster care at an ever-growing rate.”
Since its inception in 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $16 million in grants to law-related programs. Supported by members of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation is the nation’s largest charitably-funded bar foundation.
For more information regarding CASA of Trinity Valley, visit www.casaoftv.org or call (903) 675-7070.