CASA for Kids of South Central Texas has been awarded a $12,105 Professional Development grant for Loyola Children’s Law and Policy Executive Program from the National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem(CASA/GAL) Association for Children. CASA for Kids of South Central Texas recruits, trains, and supports volunteers who advocate for the best interests of children who have experienced abuse or neglect.
The grant will pay for Mandy Wright, the programs Executive Director, to obtain a certificate in Children’s Law and Policy from Loyola University-Chicago. This program was made possible by the long-standing relationship between Loyola University and National CASA/GAL. The Children’s Law and Policy Executive Program is one component of National CASA/GAL’s professional development initiative that offers grant funding for tuition costs for directors and staff members. This program has been customized for members of the CASA/GAL network. CASA/GAL leaders from across the country will devote a year of coursework to learn about child welfare policy, study law and the legal system, and to amass leadership skills.
“CASA for Kids provides advocacy services to children in Austin, Colorado, Waller, and Washington counties who enter the foster care system because his or her home is no longer safe. Too many children in the child welfare system lose their families, their rights, and their hope. However, every child has a chance – it’s you,” says Mandy Wright, Executive Director of CASA for Kids of South Central Texas.
There are 950 CASA/GAL programs nationwide, including 49 state offices. The federal grant funds distributed through National CASA/GAL are provided by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, U.S. Department of Justice, as authorized under the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990.
About CASA for Kids of South Central Texas
For more information on becoming a CASA volunteer and other ways you can get involved, visit wespeak4kids.org.
About the National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem Association for Children
The National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Association for Children, together with its 950 state and local member programs, supports and promotes court-appointed volunteer advocacy so that every child who has experienced abuse or neglect in the United States can be safe, have a permanent home, and have the opportunity to 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 help change a child’s story. To learn more, visit nationalcasagal.org or follow National CASA/GAL on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Courtesy of CASA for Kids of South Central Texas
