FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Matthew Wadlinger, Chief Brand Officer
Email: mwadlinger@casaoc.org
Phone: 714-619-5151
CASA OC receives national grant to improve support to Orange County’s children impacted by the child welfare system
(Orange, CA) – October 24, 2024 – CASA OC has been awarded a $74,200 Strategic Planning Demonstration - Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Grant from the National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Association. CASA OC 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 Strategic Planning Demonstration - Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Grant will help fund intentional volunteer recruitment efforts within the DEI scope. Specifically, CASA OC is looking forward to having a presence in our community with the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival, OC Fair, Orange International Street Fair, OC Pride and OC Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Emotional Wellness Fiesta.
“We are incredibly honored to be one of the grant recipients from National CASA and are excited to begin advertising in new venues that will allow us to become better community partners. We are using these funds to help close the gap between the demographics of the children that we serve and the volunteers that we train.” said Matthew Wadlinger, Chief Brand Officer.
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.
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About Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Orange County
A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 1985, Court Appointed Special Advocates of Orange County (CASA OC) provides a powerful voice and a meaningful connection for children who have experienced abuse, neglect and abandonment. CASA volunteers are a crucial intervention to help ensure safety, speed up permanent placement, help children and youth thrive in school, and support positive health outcomes. A CASA volunteer is often the only consistent adult in a child or youth’s life who is not paid to support and advocate for them. The CEO of CASA OC since 2017 is Regan Dean Phillips, Esq., MSW. Chair of the Board of Directors is Michael Wong, President & CEO, Genea. CASA is a private, nonprofit organization supported by individuals, foundations, corporations, and government agencies. It is a member of the National CASA/GAL Association for Children. Please visit casaoc.org to learn more.
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.