CASA of the South Plains has a crucial need for 20 additional community members to sign up for its November training class and serve as volunteer Advocates for abused and neglected foster children in our community. A CASA, or Court Appointed Special Advocate is a volunteer that helps foster children navigate the child welfare system and ensure their needs are being met while working to help find safe, permanent homes. Now is the time to step off the sidelines and make a difference. By meeting this goal of 20 new CASA volunteers, an additional 40 foster children could be helped that otherwise would not have someone who would speak up for their best interest. CASA needs you to act now, accept the challenge, and become a volunteer Advocate.
           
Prospective volunteers are urged to attend the upcoming CASA 101 informational session hosted by CASA of the South Plains on Tuesday, September 27th from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the The Grand 2nd floor conference room at Reagor Dykes Headquarters, 1215 Avenue J. This is a great, no-obligation introduction to CASA and its mission. CASA staff and current Advocates will be on hand to discuss the increasing need for volunteers, what it means to be a CASA, and how community members can help make a difference in the lives of area foster children.

“I can feel good about the fact that I am doing something about the problem. Trying to help, one case at a time, one child at a time. Trying to make a difference. Making sure that, on my watch, my CASA kids will not become another statistic of recurring abuse and neglect. I recently had the extreme joy of watching my little CASA girls be adopted into a permanent, loving home that will utterly change the path they would otherwise have been on. It makes it all worth it,” said Anne, CASA volunteer.

To attend, please register at www.casaofthesouthplains.org or contact Amanda Norfleet, Recruitment Director, by Monday, September 26th at (806) 763-2272 or via email at amandan@casaofthesouthplains.org. Lunch will be provided to attendees.

About CASA of the South Plains
CASA of the South Plains empowers community members to serve as volunteer advocates that speak for the well-being of abused and neglected children in the foster care system. Court appointed special advocates are community members just like you who ensure each foster child’s needs remain a priority in an over-burdened child welfare system while working to find safe, permanent homes for these most vulnerable children.

CASA’s Impact
1. Children with a CASA Advocate spend 5 months less in foster care and are half as likely to re-enter foster care.
2. In 2015, CASA of the South Plains provided advocacy services to 485 foster youth.
3. CASA Advocates donated 8,591 hours in 2015, saving county taxpayers more than $343,640 in county paid attorney fees.

How You Can Help
1. Become a CASA Advocate – more than 700 children are without the assistance of an Advocate in the South Plains.
2. Become a CASA donor – it costs CASA $1,500 to recruit and train each Advocate.
3. Host a CASA 101 – CASA will come to your business and educate your staff about its mission and goals.

To learn how to become an Advocate, or if you are unable to volunteer at this time, and would like to make a donation, visit www.casaofthesouthplains.org or call (806) 763-2272.

(News release from CASA of the South Plains)