CASA IC has been awarded a $120,755.00 Growth Grant from the National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Association. CASA IC recruits, trains and supports volunteers who advocate for the best interests of children who are involved in judicial proceedings related to abuse or neglect. Volunteer advocates are trained to support children through regular visits, information gathering, court reporting and continuous case monitoring until the child/youth has a permanent home, preferably with their family of origin whenever safely possible. The National CASA/GAL Growth Grant will enable Tribal Case Manager to focus on advocating for indigenous children within the tribal court system.
The initiative strengthens training, recruitment, and coordination across jurisdictions. The case manager will allow for collaboration between local and tribal courts, county social services, and community partners to improve advocacy for foster youth in one of California's largest tribal communities, the Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe.
"The hiring of a Tribal Case Manager will give us the ability to give a voice to some of the most vulnerable children in our community," said Alex Cardenas, Executive Director of CASA IC.
There are 939 CASA/GAL state organizations and local programs operating in 49 states and the District of Columbia. This funding is provided under the OJIDP FY24 Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Training, Technical Assistance, and Subgrants Program (CFDA #16.756) to manage a national grant awards program on behalf of the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) primarily for the purpose of increasing the number Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/Guardian ad Litem (GAL) volunteers to advocate for the best interest of children who have experienced abuse or neglect and are the subject of civil court child abuse and neglect proceedings. National CASA/GAL administers the grants program under a cooperative agreement with OJJDP which is authorized pursuant to the Victims of Child Abuse Act, 34 USC §20323.
The National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Association, together with its 941 state and local program members, supports and promotes court-appointed volunteer advocacy so that every child who is involved in judicial proceedings related to abuse or neglect in the United States can be safe, have a permanent home and have the opportunity to thrive. National CASA/GAL offers leadership and support to the network of programs and leads its continued growth. CASA/GAL volunteers and staff work every day to advocate for children/youth and to strengthen and support families. To learn more, visit nationalcasagal.org.