CASA for Kids of East Texas receives $20,000 grant from Texas Bar Foundation
Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Kids of East Texas received a $20,000 grant from the Texas Bar Foundation to implement volunteer recruitment.
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CASA for Kids of East Texas receives $20,000 grant from Texas Bar Foundation
Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Kids of East Texas received a $20,000 grant from the Texas Bar Foundation to implement volunteer recruitment.
Since its inception in 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $15 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.
CASA is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to provide trained volunteer advocates for abused and neglected children involved in the courts of Smith, Wood and Van Zandt Counties, with a goal of achieving a permanent living arrangement for each child, which will serve that child's best interest.
"These funds will be used to increase our volunteer recruitment," said Patty Garner, CASA for Kids of East Texas executive director. "As of today, we need 32 more volunteers in Smith County, 15 more in Wood County and at least 20 more in Van Zandt County. The number of cases increase every day."
Satellite offices were recently opened in Wood and Van Zandt counties. The Wood County CASA Office is located at First United Methodist Church, Ministry Center, 612 N. Newsom St. in Mineola. It is open and accepting volunteer applications on Mondays and Tuesdays. The Van Zandt County CASA Office is located at First United Methodist Church, 600 S. Buffalo St. in Canton. It is open and accepting volunteer applications on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Last year, 14 CASA for Kids of East Texas volunteer advocates spoke for 60 abused and neglected children in Wood County. In Van Zandt County last year, 13 CASA for Kids of East Texas volunteer advocates spoke for 83 abused and neglected children. There are currently 70 volunteers in Smith County who are working with 246 children.
"A very serious concern for all citizens and community partners should be why child abuse continues to escalate and what can be done to slow down this life-threatening trend," said Garner. "CASA for Kids of East Texas, as endorsed by the 321st District Court, is an important component in the proactive solution of breaking the cycle of child abuse."
For more information, call the CASA office at (903) 597- 7725 or visit exas.org.
