CASA of the 10th Judicial District

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CASA of the 10th Judicial Receives National Certification Recognizing the Quality of Its Work for Abused and Neglected Children

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  The CASA of the 10th Judicial has just been awarded certification by the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association.  This certification recognizes that CASA is in compliance with National CASA’s high standards for quality child advocacy. 

According to Michael Piraino, CEO of the National CASA Association, “The National CASA quality assurance process is very rigorous, and reflects our commitment to ensure every child we serve has the most powerful volunteer advocate working on their behalf.  This certification says CASA has demonstrated to us a strong capacity to provide excellent services to the abused and neglected children within their community.”

The CASA of the 10th Judicial District started in 2001.  In 2009, there were 218 children of the 10^th judicial district in the court system due to abuse and/or neglect.  Every day, abused and neglected children in our community are placed into temporary foster care because their parents cannot take care of them.  CASA volunteers work to help these children find safe, permanent homes where they can thrive.  “It’s all about caring and common sense.  No matter what you do, you’re giving these kids so much more than they’ve ever had”, states Sue Forstadt, a CASA Volunteer.  Carol Price, a homemaker and CASA Volunteer reported, “You start out to change a child’s life and you find you’ve also changed your own”.  Let’s take these children from NEGLECTED to NURTURED! We can make a difference! For more information, contact Jeni Smith at (870)831-9536 or email at CASA10exdir@yahoo.com, or Elizabeth Parnell at (870)853-0814/(870)818-5171or email at CASA10thvc@yahoo.com .

About the National CASA Association

In 1976, concerned over making decisions about abused and neglected children’s lives without sufficient information, a Seattle judge conceived the idea of using trained community volunteers to speak for the best interests of these children in court, helping to ensure that they will live in a safe and loving environment.  So successful was this Seattle program, that soon judges across the country began utilizing citizen advocates.  In 1990, the U.S. Congress encouraged the expansion of CASA with passage of the Victims of Child Abuse Act.  Today, there are more than 950 National CASA member programs across the country, with ore than 70,000 men and women serving as CASA Volunteers. 

Sept 8-2010 Ashley County Wildlife Federation Donated 999.00 to CASA to support a wildlife experiance for the children of this district.

CASA comes to Drew Central EAST

January 15th, 2011 by Drew Central Schools