Texas Bar Foundation Supports Local Abused And Neglected Children With Grant To Child Advocacy Program

The Texas Bar Foundation awarded a grant this month to Court Appointed Special Advocates, or CASA, to train and support community volunteers to help abused and neglected children who are in long-term foster care.

CASA envisions a world where every child thrives in a safe, stable and loving home.

Advocating for children in this area for more than 30 years, CASA of Central Texas acts as the eyes and ears of judges hearing Child Protection Court cases.

Since its inception in 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $17 million in grants to law-related programs.  Supported by members of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation is the nation’s largest charitably-funded bar foundation.

CASA of Central Texas Executive Director Norma Blackwell said the grant demonstrates the Texas Bar Foundation’s dedication to the welfare of children in the state.

“We are working toward a goal of providing a CASA volunteer to every child in State care to ensure they do not fall through the cracks of an overburdened system,” Blackwell said. “I am happy that, with this support from the Texas Bar Foundation, we will be able to train more volunteers, helping us get closer to our goal.”

CASA volunteers receive an initial 42 hours of training and are provided with continued training throughout their service. They also receive guidance from their casework supervisor.

Blackwell said the funds provided by the foundation will provide training materials to new volunteers and provide solid support for volunteers while they are serving on a case.

CASA volunteer John Barthel said his time as a volunteer has taught him the importance of each child having an advocate inside the courtroom and out.

“I have learned the value to a child of having an adult just ‘be there’ consistently over the long haul,” Barthel said. “Both in good times and bad, it seems that having a loyal, consistent, non-judging adult can reduce some of the anxiety in a foster child’s life, and provide some much needed stability.”

In 2016, CASA volunteers served 497 children in the four-county service area of Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe and Hays Counties, but there were an additional 693 children who did not have the voice of a CASA.

Volunteers are assigned to one case at a time; therefore, CASA can only serve as many children as there are volunteers. If you would like to become a volunteer or learn about additional ways to support CASA, please visit www.casacentex.org, or call (512) 392- 3578 or (830) 626-2272.