PAID ADVERTISEMENT Be e Voice Every Child Deserves: Become a CASA of Galveston County volunteer
Photos by Darian Hofer
Photos by Darian Hofer
Every child deserves to feel safe, heard and cared for, especially those navigating the trauma of abuse or neglect. CASA of Galveston County stands as a powerful advocate for these children, providing a consistent and compassionate voice for their best interests. CASA, which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates, recruits and trains community vol- unteers to advocate for children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. ese volunteers are appointed by the court to rep- resent the best interests of children in foster care, working to ensure their safety and to help secure a permanent, stable home.
“Our vision is for every child who comes into fos- ter care in Galveston County to have a CASA by their side,” Marketing and Outreach Coordinator Joanna Mendoza said. “We also work to raise awareness in the community about the realities of child abuse and neglect because the more people know, the more they’re likely to get involved.” at involvement can truly change lives. Advocates serve as a steady presence through a child’s often chaotic journey in foster care, gathering informa- tion from caregivers, teachers, doctors and case- workers to make informed recommendations to the court. “A lot of the time, there are new adults coming in and out of the child’s life. ey might be assigned multiple caseworkers and attorneys during their
case, and they may move from placement to placement. is can make them have a harder time knowing who to trust,” CASA volunteer Joshua Farley said. “You become that steady and consistent friendly face who’s always there to look out for them.” at sense of deep responsibility resonates with Susan Douglas, a CASA volunteer. “What really made a dierence to me recently was being in court and realizing that what I said, and what I wrote in my report, inuenced the judge’s decision,” Douglas said. “Once you understand that you’re making a real impact in the children’s lives, it drives you.”...
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ose interested in becoming a CASA of Galveston County volunteer are encouraged to attend an information session to learn more about the role. To apply or nd more information, visit www.casagalveston.org
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