Somerset, Kentucky – October 29, 2024 – Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Southern Kentucky has been awarded a $19,513.00 Volunteer Recruitment Grant from the National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Association. CASA of Southern Kentucky recruits, trains, and supports volunteers who advocate for the best interests of children involved in judicial proceedings related to abuse or neglect.
Volunteer Advocate Training
Volunteer advocates are trained to support children through:
- Regular visits
- Information gathering
- Court reporting
- Continuous case monitoring
This support continues until the child/youth has a permanent home, preferably with their family of origin whenever safely possible.
Grant Impact
The National CASA/GAL Volunteer Recruitment Grant will enable CASA of Southern Kentucky to:
- Focus on recruiting and training additional volunteers to serve children in our service area.
- Participate in community outreach and recruitment events to increase awareness and provide education about the program.
- Retain our current volunteer base.
Tammy Roberts, Executive Director of CASA of Southern Kentucky, stated, “The Volunteer Recruitment Grant will provide crucial support to enhance our efforts in attracting dedicated individuals and expanding our capacity to deliver essential advocacy services.”
About CASA/GAL Organizations
There are 941 CASA/GAL state organizations and local programs operating in 49 states and the District of Columbia. This funding is provided under the OJJDP FY2021 VOCA Children’s Advocacy National Subgrant 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). The program primarily aims to increase the number of Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/Guardian ad Litem (GAL) volunteers to advocate for the best interests of children who have experienced abuse or neglect and are involved in civil court child abuse and neglect proceedings.
National CASA/GAL administers the grants program under a cooperative agreement with OJJDP, authorized pursuant to the Victims of Child Abuse Act, 34 USC §20323.
About CASA of Southern Kentucky
CASA of Southern Kentucky is a nonprofit organization that has been providing advocacy services for children in Pulaski and Rockcastle Counties since October 2019. The organization trains and supports community volunteers to ensure that children’s voices are heard in court and their best interests are represented. Through dedicated advocacy, CASA works to help every child achieve safety, stability, and a permanent home.
About the National CASA/GAL Association
The National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Association, along with its 941 state and local program members, supports and promotes court-appointed volunteer advocacy so that every child involved in judicial proceedings related to abuse or neglect in the United States can be safe, have a permanent home, and 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.
