CASA of Williamson County is honored to announce that it has been selected as a recipient of a $20,000 grant from the Texas Bar Foundation to assist in program growth. CASA Wilco recruits, trains, and supervises community volunteers to become Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) for youths who enter the child welfare system. CASA volunteers get to know these children, as well as everyone involved in their lives, in order to make recommendations in the child’s best interest in court.
“CASA of Williamson County is deeply honored to have received this grant from the Texas Bar Foundation,” said Chief Executive Officer Marissa A. Austin. “This generous funding will allow us to expand our advocacy efforts and continue making a meaningful impact on the lives of the children we serve. We are immensely grateful for the Foundation’s commitment to our cause.”
CASA Wilco plans to use these funds to help fund an additional Advocate Supervisor position. Supervisors oversee 25-30 cases on average and provide support, mentorship, and assistance to CASA volunteers. Last year CASA Wilco was appointed to 333 children, which represented a 20% increase from the year prior. CASA Wilco anticipates the number of children to whom they are appointed to continue to rise in the upcoming year.
Since its inception in 1965, the Texas Bar Foundation has awarded more than $26 million in grants to law-related programs. Supported by members of the State Bar of Texas, the Texas Bar Foundation is the nation’s largest charitably-funded bar foundation.