Summary
Organization name
CASA Hope for Children
Causes
Youth & Children
Operating Budget
$500,000 - $999,999
Counties Served
Palo Pinto, Parker
BIPOC Leadership
Board Chair
Address
305 S RuskWeatherford, TX 76086
CASA Hope for Children
A nonprofit organization
$14,057 raised by 17 donors
100% complete
$12,500 Goal
CASA Hope for Children is a community-based volunteer organization, supported by a small staff, that recruits, trains, and supports volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs)/Guardian Ad Litems (GALs) to provide legal, medical, educational, and safety advocacy to children and youth in the foster care system, after they have been removed from their homes due to allegations of abuse or neglect. Our advocates serve as the eyes and ears of the judges in Parker and Palo Pinto counties and work diligently to gather information to represent the best interest of each child.
In 2023, our volunteer CASAs served 100% of children and youth in foster care in our service area. What does it mean to serve 274 children and youth? Cumulatively, for our 72 volunteer CASAs, it meant driving 122,515 miles to meet with children placed all over the state of Texas. This is equivalent to driving across the continental United States nearly 42 times. Why are they doing that? It's worth every mile to spend 3,495 hours face to face getting to know the struggles, wishes, hopes, and dreams of children and youth and reassuring them they are seen, heard, and loved. It required 2,234 hours in contact with parents, foster placements, and permanency specialists and 457 hours of documentation and record review. Our CASAs then synthesized this information and spent 337 hours preparing court reports. This resulted in 109 children's cases being closed after achieving permanency in a safe and loving home. For some, permanency means reunification with parents, or living with family, or adoption by a non-relative, all dependent on what is in the best interest of the child so that they have a chance to thrive, not just survive.
Mission
CASA Hope for Children recruits, trains and supports volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) to advocate for the best interest of children and empower families involved in the child welfare system.
Needs
The demand placed on our volunteers to serve children in the foster care system is high. We ask people to volunteer their time to face what so many of us cannot bear, showing up for abused and neglected children. It is hard work, and it is heart work. Our ability to provide our volunteers what they need is directly correlated to their ability to serve the children and youth in our community.
On average our volunteers cumulatively drive over 10,000 miles per month. We need funding to cover their fuel costs.
Our volunteer advocates are often exposed to documentation and outcries of horrific acts against children. We need funding to offer mental health and wellness services to our advocates.
We are ALWAYS needing new volunteers willing to shine a light on child's path and need funding for recruitment materials.
The ability to provide these supports to our advocates allows them to better and more wholistically serve children.
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Organization Data
Weatherford, TX 76086