December 21, 2022 – Crime Victim Services’ CASA Program has been awarded a $47,000 Needs-Based Grant from the National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Association for Children. CASA of Allen and Putnam Counties, Ohio recruits, trains, and supports volunteers who advocate for the best interests of children who have experienced abuse or neglect. The National CASA/GAL Needs-Based Grants are designed to help sustain the capacity of state organizations and local programs to recruit, screen, train, supervise and retain CASA/GAL volunteers while maintaining quality advocacy and supporting initiatives to increase the number of children served.
The National CASA GAL Needs-Based Grant will enable Crime Victim Services’ CASA Program to focus on sustaining service to qualifying children in Allen and Putnam Counties.
“This grant will allow us to recruit and train additional caring and passionate volunteers to ensure each child in our community can have a safe and permanent home. We are so grateful to National CASA for enabling us to continue providing quality services in our region,” said Ryn Farmer, Deputy Director of Crime Victim Services.
There are 950 state CASA/GAL organizations and local CASA/GAL programs operating in 49 states (all but North Dakota) and the District of Columbia. The federal grant funds distributed through National CASA/GAL are provided by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, US Department of Justice, as authorized under the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990.
At Crime Victim Services, we believe communities thrive when all members prevail over trauma and support one another with empathy and respect. Since 1980, we've been leading the way in prevention, advocacy, and outreach to facilitate healing in West Central Ohio. The mission of Crime Victim Services' Court Appointed Special Advocate / Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Program is to advocate for the best interest of abused, neglected, and dependent children. www.crimevictimservices.org
About the National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem Association for Children: The National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Association for Children, together with its 950 state and local member programs, supports and promotes court-appointed volunteer advocacy so that every child who has experienced abuse or neglect in the United States can be safe, have a permanent home and have the opportunity to thrive. National CASA/GAL offers leadership and support to the network of programs and leads its continued growth. CASA/GAL volunteers and staff work every day to advocate for children, youth, and families. To learn more, visit nationalcasagal.org.