At the March on Washington on Aug. 28, 1963, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his inspirational “I Have a Dream” speech. King’s dream was equal rights for all Americans, regardless of the color of their skin. CASA in the Heart of Texas also has a dream this Martin Luther King Jr. Day – a dream that every child in Texas has a safe, permanent home.
When children are removed from their homes due to evidence of abuse or neglect, they are placed in the child welfare system, sometimes far away from their friends and loved ones. Often times, they are left to navigate the system on their own without a consistent adult to guide them.
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteers are appointed by judges to speak up for a child in court. A CASA volunteer’s main goal is to help move the child out of the temporary system and into a safe, permanent home as quickly as possible. CASA in the Heart of Texas is one of the 71 local CASA programs in Texas that recruit volunteers to advocate for children in court.
“By getting to know the child personally and speaking up for his or her best interest, CASA volunteers make sure the child’s voice is not lost in the chaos of court proceedings,” said Michelle Wells, Executive Director of CASA in the Heart of Texas.In 2013, more than 46,600 Texas children were in the child welfare system. Of those children, roughly half did not have a CASA volunteer.
Last year, 36 CASA volunteers served many children in the child welfare system in Brown, Comanche and Mills counties but several children still need a volunteer to advocate for their best interests.
“We hope for a day when CASA is no longer needed because all children are safe and cared for,” said Wells. “But until then, we need more community members to step up and advocate for our most vulnerable children.”
CASA volunteers speak with everyone involved in the child’s life, including family members, teachers, therapists and foster parents. They gather information about the child’s physical, educational and emotional needs and report their findings to the court so that the judge can make an informed placement decision.
CASA volunteers advocate first and foremost for reunification with the child’s immediate family, but when that is not an option they work to place the child with a loving adoptive family.
“At CASA in the Heart of Texas, we have a dream of ensuring that every child has a forever home where they can thrive and grow,” said Wells. “Join us in making our dream a reality this Martin Luther King Jr. Day by becoming a CASA volunteer.”
For more information, visit www.becomeacasa.org or www.casabrownwood.org or call CASA at 325-643-2557 or come by their office at Austin Ave and Ave. B in the Family Service Center. CASA will start a new training class the first part of February.
