CASA for Kids receives national grant
CASA for Kids Inc. of Washington County has been awarded a $30,000 Local Suburban Grant from the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association. Money will be used to recruit, screen and train more CASA volunteers from among the community to serve children who experienced abuse or neglect.
CASA for Kids is one of almost 1,000 CASA and Guardian ad Litem (GAL) programs across the country that recruit, train and support 87,000 best-interest volunteers who help ensure that children who have entered the court and child welfare systems receive appropriate services, have a voice in determining their futures and, ultimately, find a safe, permanent home where they can thrive.
A child enters the foster care system every two minutes, and currently there are not enough CASA volunteers to serve every child. On average, for every child assigned a best-interest volunteer, two others go it alone.
“The needs of Washington County’s children coming into care are more complicated than ever before, and these children need a voice that a CASA volunteer can provide.” said Vivian C. Osowski, executive director. “Every child deserves the support of a caring, consistent adult with the training to help her or him heal and thrive.”
The federal grant funds distributed through the National CASA Association are provided by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, U.S. Department of Justice, as authorized under the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990. They are awarded through a competitive process. In 2017, National CASA awarded over $4.6 million in federal grants.
CASA for Kids is holding the next volunteer training beginning on Feb. 21. For information about becoming a best-interests volunteer or other ways to get involved in changing a child’s life, call 724-228-0414 or visit the CASA website, www.casawashingtoncounty.org.