Casa Of Travis County

Description

Overview Concerned over making decisions about abused and neglected children's lives without sufficient information, a Seattle judge conceived the idea of using trained community volunteers to speak for the best interests of these children in court. This Seattle program was so successful that soon judges across the country began utilizing citizen advocates. Eventually in 1990, the U.S. Congress encouraged the expansion ofEstablished in 1985, CASA of Travis County was the fourth CASA program launched in Texas. Initial funding for the program came from a Junior League of Austin grant along with donated office space from Travis County resulting in 22 CASA volunteers completing training that year. At year end in 1986, CASA of Travis County had served 85 abused and neglected children on 60 cases with 43 active volunteers.The organization has grown steadily ever since. By 1992, the local chapter had adopted the extended 40-hour training program recommended by National CASA. In 1998, The University of Texas School of Social Work Research completed a study of children served by CASA of Travis County. The study concluded that CASA Volunteers moved children to a safe, permanent home six months faster than children without a CASA volunteer.

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