The following is a news release from CASA of the South Plains:

While summer can be a time for vacations and family fun, it is also a time where the shadow of foster care falls on too many children in our community and they are left to navigate this chaos alone. The problem of child abuse and neglect doesn’t take the summer off. Be the voice for the best interest of a child in foster care, become a CASA Volunteer. A CASA, or Court Appointed Special Advocate is a volunteer who helps a foster child navigate the child welfare system and ensure their needs are being met while working to help find a safe, permanent home. CASA needs 25 new volunteers for its upcoming June training class, which would potentially help an additional 50 foster children in our community.

Learn more by attending the CASA 101 informational session hosted by CASA of the South Plains on Wednesday, May 23rd from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the CASA office in the Reagor Dykes Headquarters building at 1215 Avenue J in the second floor conference room. 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.

CASA 101 attendees interested in becoming a CASA volunteer can also begin the application and sign-up process. Training classes can fill up quickly and space is limited.

To attend, please register at www.casaofthesouthplains.org or contact Kristen Mata, Recruitment Director, by Tuesday, May 22nd at (806) 763-2272 or via email at kristenm@casaofthesouthplains.org.

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. 622 foster youth received advocacy services from CASA of the South Plains in 2017.
2. 288 CASA volunteers donated a total of 8,235 hours in 2017, saving county taxpayers $452,925 in county paid attorneys’ fees.
3. 235 foster youth found permanency with the help of their CASA volunteer in 2017.

How You Can Help

1. Become a CASA volunteer – In 2017, almost 900 children were left without the assistance of an Advocate in the communities served by CASA.
2. Become a CASA donor – Consider a monthly gift of $5 or more through the Heroes for Hope campaign. Every gift makes a difference!
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) 763-227