CASA & CAC LIFE D WORDS BY TRAVIS HAIRGROVE

In 2024 alone, CASA volunteers served 133 kids.

Here is a breakdown of the impact that CASA for Hunt County has in the community:

Summary of Basic Role

CASAs( standing for courtappointed special advocates) are trained volunteers who provide long-term, one-on-one support for children in the foster care system. They work to ensure a child’ s best interests are represented in court and that the child is eventually placed in a safe, permanent home.

History of CASA for Hunt County

CASA for Hunt County is part of a national volunteer movement that began in 1977 when Judge David Soukup in Seattle decided he needed to know more about the children whose lives were in his hands. His solution was to ask community volunteers to act as a“ voice in court” for abused and

neglected children.

These court-appointed special advocates provided him with the detailed information he needed to safeguard the children’ s best interests and ensure that they were placed in safe, permanent homes as quickly as possible. The program was successful and eventually copied across the country. There are now more than 1,000 CASA programs nationwide and 72 in Texas.

In 2002, CASA for Hunt County was organized by Celeste Prather, who served as its executive director until September 2015. CASA for Hunt County began with a handful of volunteers.

Today, CASA for Hunt County serves 100 % of the Hunt County children who, by no fault of their own, are in the care and custody of the state – also known as foster care.

CASA volunteers come from all walks of life. Screened and trained, CASA volunteers are dedicated, local residents who have a passion for helping children during an especially difficult time in their young lives.

What’ s New?

In November, CASA for Hunt County moved into its new location at 2701 Washington St.

CASA purchased the building in May of last year and with it being nearly 60 % larger than its former location on Lee Street, staff and volunteers hope to serve more children with the building’ s volunteer training and meeting room, individual offices for confidential casework, as well as a volunteer networking area.

“ Over a year’ s worth of work has created a beautifully spacious and highly functional office for Hunt County’ s nonprofit organization, whose volunteers are court-appointed to serve as advocates for 100 % of the county’ s children placed into the foster care system due to abuse,” executive director Lori Cope said of CASA’ s new facility.

How to Help

Those who would like to become CASA volunteers can apply at https:// tinyurl. com / tmec6t7s. Monetary donations to CASA for Hunt County can be made at https:// tinyurl. com / 3dwz9hs8.