CASA of Lafayette County has been awarded a $30,000 Core Model Grant from the National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Association for Children. Funds will be used to recruit, train, and assign new volunteers to represent the best interests of children who have experienced abuse or neglect. Work done under the core model grant will target key populations such as American Indian/Alaska Native, rural, and opioid-impacted youth.
There are nearly 950 CASA/GAL programs nationwide, including 49 state offices, supporting volunteers who work on behalf of children in the child welfare system. Their advocacy enables judges to make the most well-informed decisions for each child.
The core model grant will enable CASA of Lafayette County to focus on advocating for the needs of at-risk and underserved youth. Volunteers will also mentor youth, helping them increase their level of connectivity with community and family, improve educational outcomes, and reach stable placements.
“We are thrilled to be a recipient of the Core Model Grant from the National CASA/GAL Association for Children. We see the need for funding as the number of children in foster care continue to rise in Lafayette County, and this grant will allow us to continue to serve Oxford and Lafayette County’s most vulnerable youth,” said Erin Smith, Executive Director of CASA of Lafayette County.
The federal grant funds distributed through National CASA/GAL are provided by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, US Department of Justice, as authorized under the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990. In 2019, National CASA/GAL was awarded nearly $7 million in federal grants.
CASA of Lafayette County from Danny Klimetz on Vimeo.
About CASA of Lafayette County
CASA of Lafayette County is a non-profit organization that advocates for the best interests of abused and neglected children throughout the appointment of court-appointed, screened, trained community volunteers. To learn more about this organization visit www.CASAofLafayetteCounty.com.
