Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Montgomery County
WISH LIST: $100: 40 hours of training for one volunteer advocate; $1000 fingerprint/background checks for 20 prospective volunteer advocates
Annually in Montgomery County some 700 kids are involved in the juvenile court or child welfare system because of abuse or neglect. They wait in foster care an average of 24 months (Maryland's goal is 18) for safe, permanent homes--and everyone knows that's just too long. CASA works to connect kids with the medical care, mental health, and education services they need while they wait, and to get them reunited with their biological families or placed in adoptive homes--as quickly as possible. What makes CASA special is individual attention: carefully screened and trained volunteers are appointed "advocates" by Juvenile Court judges, and they are there for the kids from day one: assessing their backgrounds, providing informed recommendations that are in their best interests, attending court hearings, and following up to see that services are secured. Over the past 18 years, CASA Montgomery has trained over 850 volunteers and served 1,040 abused and neglected children referred by the Juvenile Court. For its cost-effective and committed service, it has been awarded the Henry L Dixon, Jr Award from the Montgomery County Community Action Board, and the Marriott Spirit to Service Award two years in a row. Volunteer advocates are the eyes and ears of these children. You can be their hearts.
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Francha T Davis Executive Director |
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