Court Appointed Special Advocates

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Grayson County is a non-profit organization dedicated to training and equipping our community volunteers to protect children, empower families, and advocate for positive outcomes for children involved in the child welfare system. 

CASA envisions a community of healthy children and families on a positive trajectory for a brighter future.

For nearly three decades, Court Appointed Special Advocates of Grayson County (CASA) has committed itself to serving the children of our community. We humbly request a gift from your Foundation to support the recruitment, training, and support of volunteer child advocates to serve the most vulnerable population in our community. 

Our mission is to empower families and promote positive outcomes for children in the child welfare system. Every child in Grayson County removed from their family home by the Texas Department of Family Services is paired with a CASA advocate. On average, we assist 120 children each year, thanks to the dedication and passion of our 38 volunteer advocates, who provide over 4,000 hours of service. The total number of people served on average, including additional family members, is 240

We believe that CASA Advocates are the key to the success of our program and the future of the children we serve

Imagine being a young child torn away from everything you know: family, school, and friends. You're pulled away, not because of something you did, but because you are a victim of abuse and neglect. Imagine being placed in an unfamiliar place with unknown people and the fear and trauma that would cause. This is just the beginning of a traumatic journey for the children we serve. 

 

Court Appointed Special Advocates, known as CASA, serve these children. CASA is the only advocacy group appointed as Guardian Ad Litem in Grayson County and appointed by the State to testify to the best interests of these children in court. CASA of Grayson County is the only organization trained and equipped to serve these most vulnerable children in our community. Our role as Guardian ad litem is more important than ever. In 2022, the foster care system transitioned into community-based care or privatized care. 

 

On average, 150 children are removed from their homes and placed in foster care. Over half of these children in our community are placed in homes outside Grayson County and across the state, including Houston, Austin, and San Antonio. As part of our role as CASA, our advocates meet with and build relationships with the child, parents, placement, and other foster care professionals to advocate for each child’s medical, mental health, educational, safety, and permanency needs. Most importantly, our job is to empower families to overcome adversity and develop support systems, with the hope that every child will be permanently placed back with their family whenever possible.