Court Appointed Special Advocates: A National Grants Program

The National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association (National CAA) will provide awards to local and state Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) programs in order to ensure that abused and neglected children involved in court proceedings receive quality, timely, sensitive and effective representation. The funds provided to local CASA programs nationwide will support: (a) the development of new CASA programs, particularly in communities where representation rates are low, the numbers of abused and neglected children are high and service systems are not meeting the needs of families and children; (b) the expansion and strengthening of existing CASA organizations; and (c) the development and expansion of state CASA organizations to build their capacity to provide services to local CASA programs. The National Grants Program administered by National CASA will achieve growth of the CASA network and ensure high quality volunteer representation of children through the following objectives: (1) increase the number of CASA programs in communities with a documented need and interest; (2) support the expansion of existing CASA programs to enable them to serve more children in need; (3) expand the diversity of CASA program staff to provide more effective and culturally sensitive services to children in the child welfare system; (4) support the increased capacity of CASA programs in targeted urban areas to increase the rate of representation of children in need; and (5) support CASA programs to become well-managed, effective organizations that make efficient use of all available resources in order to assure quality representation for children. NCA/NCF

This project will enhance the mission of the National CASA Association (also referred to as National CASA or the Association): Together with its state and local members, the National CASA Association supports and promotes court-appointed volunteer advocacy for abused and neglected children so that they can thrive in safe, permanent homes. Funding will continue CASA's Grants Program serving local and state affiliates. Through a well tested methodology, CASA's grants will increase the number of children receiving volunteer representation. Funds will establish CASA advocacy in new communities, expand established local affiliates and assist statewide programs with their own organizational capacity as well as furthering their ability to support the development of local affiliates. The 2005 grants will move affiliates to action by implementing strategies to include more people of color, increase recognition of CASA and increase program sustainability. Results will be measured by comparing baseline data with growth in children served and volunteers engaged (grantees) and increases in new and expanded state and local programs (National CASA).
NCA/NCF

The National Court Apponted Special Advocates Association (NCASAA) National Grants Program's CASA network consists of nearly 900 local programs in 49 states and serves over 299,000 children annually. This project will enhance the mission of National CASA: Together with its state and local members, the National CASA Association supports and promotes court-appointed volunteer advocacy for abused and neglected children so that they can thrive in safe, permanent homes. Funding will continue CASA's Grants Program serving local and state affiliates. Through a well tested methodology, CASA's grants will increase the number of children receiving volunteer representation. Funds will continue to assist the establishment of CASA advocacy in new communities, expand established local affiliates and assist statewide programs with their own organizational capacity as well as furthering their ability to support the development of local affiliates. The 2006 grants will continue to implement strategies to include more people of color, increase recognition of CASA and increase program sustainability. NCA/NCF