Summary
Organization name
CASA for Hunt County
Causes
Youth & Children
Operating Budget
$250,000 - $499,999
Counties Served
Hunt
Address
P.O. Box 1571Greenville, TX 75403
Child abuse cases will happen with or without Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). Yet what CASA for Hunt County can do is provide highly impactful CASA volunteer advocates to the children of these cases. CASA volunteer advocates are a voice for the children throughout their journey through the foster care system.
In Hunt County, the CASA program is appointed by the courts to serve 100% of the county's children who enter the foster care system. One goal is to make sure every abused child in our county never knows what it's like to not have a CASA volunteer advocate!
CASA for Hunt County volunteers have conducted hundreds of face-to-face visits with children in foster care. The time spent with these children is so much more than just a visit. It shows the child that there is a caring and reliable adult who will take the time to champion for what's in their best interests. It shows them that they matter.
Behind the scenes, these children have a CASA volunteer who is focused on making sure they are receiving the services they need, including medical, psychological, educational, and social. They have a CASA volunteer who will speak up with concerns and recommendations to the judge.
In 2024, CASA volunteers logged 13,604 hours and traveled 61,029 miles in service to the children in which they are appointed. The volunteer services save Hunt County taxpayers about $350,000 annually by performing many required services for the children.
CASA also provides funds for "normal" and beneficial things for these children such as senior portraits, karate classes, uniforms for extra-curricular activities, tutoring, drivers education courses, and sports and summer camps.
Another important factor is the consistency a CASA volunteer provides to the children. Statistics show a child will move 3 to 4 times during the pendency of their case, which means there will be new foster families, new schools, new friends, and maybe even a new CPS caseworker. But the one constant is their CASA volunteer.
Our Needs
The Number One avenue for helping abused children is providing each with a CASA volunteer advocate. Community support (through volunteering or contributing financially) for Volunteer Recruitment and Retention is essential.
To become a CASA volunteer, a person must complete 33 hours of training. Costs to recruit and train potential volunteers is $1,180 per person Once a person becomes a CASA Volunteer, costs to retain this volunteer with on-going training and staff supervision is $880 per person.
CASA volunteers build rapport with the children in which they are appointed by visiting them each month in their foster home, having lunch with them at school, attending events with them, and being a "constant" for them. Statistics show the children will change foster places 2 to 3 times during the pendency of their case. The children served by CASA for Hunt County are not always placed in the county, but sometimes throughout the state, and even out of state.
CASA volunteers conduct hours and hours of behind-the-scenes advocacy, such as communicating with their children's teachers, doctors, counselors, caseworkers, attorney, foster parents, biological parents, and other relatives. CASA volunteers conduct medical advocacy, educational advocacy, and legal advocacy so that each child's best interests remain at the forefront of the case.
By supporting CASA for Hunt County's volunteer recruitment, training, and supervision, you are helping the children in a very meaningful way. Every Child Deserves a CASA, and you are the key to making this happen!
Mission
CASA for Hunt County exists to promote and protect the best interests of children who have been abused or neglected. We achieve this mission by recruiting, developing, and leading highly impactful court-appointed volunteer advocates, helping these children to achieve safe and permanent homes.
Needs
The CASA for Hunt County volunteers who advocate for the county's children, who by order of the court, have been placed into foster care. It is essential that these CASA volunteers have the equipped, confidential, and efficient size home office for their required training, coaching and motivating by experienced supervisors, so they will be the highly impactful CASA volunteer that each child deserves.
CASA for Hunt County has long been officed in rental spaces that do not accommodate the needs of the boots-on-the-ground volunteers. Rental prices continue to increase as well. Therefore, CASA for Hunt County purchased a building to fully meet the organization's mission and volunteers' needs. This building requires complete Renovation.
All funds gained through North Texas Giving Day will support the volunteers' advocacy work for abused children, and afford them the office space they need for their training and to be coached and motivated by their case(s)' supervisor.
Equity Statement
At CASA for Hunt County, Inc., a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace is one where all employees and volunteers, whatever their gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation or identity, education or disability, feels valued and respected. We are committed to a nondiscriminatory approach and provide equal opportunity for employment and advancement in all of our departments, board and committees, programs, and worksites. We are committed to modeling diversity and inclusion for the entire CASA for Hunt County program including board members, staff, and volunteers, and to maintaining an inclusive environment with equitable treatment for all. We respect and value diverse life experiences and heritages and ensure that all voices are valued and heard.
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Organization Data
Greenville, TX 75403