CASA in the Heart of Texas, Inc. of Brownwood has just been awarded certification by the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association.  This certification recognizes that CASA in the Heart of Texas, Inc. is in compliance with National CASA’s high standards for quality child advocacy.

According to Tara Perry, Deputy CEO/Chief Operating Officer of the National CASA Association, “The National CASA quality assurance process is very rigorous, and reflects our commitment to ensure every child served has a powerful volunteer advocate working on their behalf and a strong program supporting their work.  This certification says CASA in the Heart of Texas, Inc. has demonstrated to us the capacity to provide excellent advocacy to the abused and neglected children within their community.”

CASA in the Heart of Texas, Inc. has been advocating for abused and neglected children since March 2001. Currently, the program is serving 65 children from Brown, Comanche, and Mills counties. Unfortunately, only 85% of the children currently assigned to the program have a CASA volunteer. There are ten children assigned to CASA that do not have a volunteer advocate. In addition, there are other children in CPS substitute care from Brown, Comanche, and Mills counties who are not being served by CASA at all due to the program not having adequate volunteers to assign to the case.

“CASA in the Heart of Texas, Inc. desperately needs more volunteers so that every child who needs a CASA can have one,” said Michelle Wells Executive Director. The next new volunteer training class will begin later this month. For more information about how you can get involved, contact Michelle Wells at (325)643-2557 or casa.ed@familysc.net.