Poteau, Oklahoma – October 22, 2024 – San Bois CASA, Inc. has been awarded a $20,000 Volunteer Recruitment Grant from the National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Association. San Bois CASA, Inc. recruits, trains and supports volunteers who advocate for the best interests of children who are involved in judicial proceedings related to abuse or neglect. Volunteer advocates are trained to support children through regular visits, information gathering, court reporting and continuous case monitoring until the child/youth has a permanent home, preferably with their family of origin whenever safely possible.
The National CASA/GAL Volunteer Recruitment Grant will enable San Bois CASA, Inc. to focus on recruiting, screening, and training new volunteer advocates to serve more children in need.
“This National CASA grant will help our program to have a dedicated staff person for recruitment, screening, and training new volunteers which will allow more children to have advocates,” said Leah McLaughlin, Executive Director of San Bois CASA, Inc.
New volunteer training classes are forming. For more information, call San Bois CASA at 918-647-3267 or email sanboiscasa@hotmail.com.
There are 941 CASA/GAL state organizations and local programs operating in 49 states and the District of Columbia. This funding is provided under the OJJDP FY2021 VOCA Children’s Advocacy National Subgrant Program (CFDA #16.756) to manage a national grant awards program on behalf of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) primarily for the purpose of increasing the number Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/Guardian ad Litem (GAL) volunteers to advocate for the best interest of children who have experienced abuse or neglect and are the subject of civil court child abuse and neglect proceedings. National CASA/GAL administers the grants program under a cooperative agreement with OJJDP which is authorized pursuant to the Victims of Child Abuse Act, 34 USC §20323.
San Bois CASA Inc. www.sanboiscasa.com
About the National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem Association The National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Association, together with its 941 state and local program members, supports and promotes court-appointed volunteer advocacy so that every child who is involved in judicial proceedings related to 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 to strengthen and support families. To learn more, visit nationalcasagal.org.