CASA in need of advocates

The Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Children is looking for volunteers to become supporters for the current 22 children in foster care within Cass County. The announcement was posted on the Linden Police Department’s Facebook page on Monday, Apr. 7. The same day, the Texarkana Children Advocacy Center (TCAC), an umbrella program of CASA, met with residents in front of the Cass County Courthouse for a proclamation to raise awareness of and prevent child abuse.

Judge Travis Ransom spoke at the gathering. The event aligned with April being National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

CASA is a non-profit organization that, according to the mission posted on their website, “recruit[s], train[s], and empower[s] volunteers to advocate on behalf of abused and neglected children.” The first program in the U.S. was established in 1977 in Seattle, WA. CASA volunteers play a significant role for children in foster care, providing independent and informed recommendations to help the court make a ruling about the child’s best interest. Volunteers are the bridge between foster children and families, helping to create connections and promote nurturing relationships that encourage hope and healing.

A total of 74 CASA programs are located within the state of Texas. CASA of Northeast Texas, established in 1990, works out of Texarkana and serves the areas of Bowie and Cass Counties in Texas and Miller, Little River, Hempstead, Howard, Nevada, and Lafayette Counties in Arkansas.

Regarding the gathering in front of the Cass County Courthouse, volunteers of the TCAC posted on their official Facebook page how impactful support, research, and advocacy is to the cause. “Your presence and support mean the world as we come together to raise awareness and stand up for the most vulnerable members of our community — our children,” the post said.

To find out more information about how you can become a volunteer and be an advocate for Cass County children in foster care, you can check out the CASA Texarkana website at casatexarkana.org or call 903-792-1030.