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Court Appointed Special Advocates’ Silver Anniversary Raises $767,000

Portland, April 9th, 2016. CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for Children of Multnomah, Washington, and Columbia Counties hosted their 25th Annual Auction: It’s a Jungle Out There for Kids. Board President Pat Welch posed with Executive Director Betsy Stark Miller. The event raised more than $767,000 in support of the nonprofit’s mission to train CASA volunteers to advocate for the health, safety, stability, and well-being of foster youth, with the ultimate goal of permanency for each child. Organizers thanked sponsors and guests, saying, “Your support will provide a CASA to nearly 1,100 foster children.”

Many who attended the benefit are CASA volunteers. A CASA advocate is the tireless and passionate protector of a child who has been abused or neglected and is going through the trauma of the foster care system. They are adult volunteers who are trained, appointed by the court, and are committed to ensuring each individual child’s needs remain a priority in an over-burdened child welfare system.

Board member Chris Clipper with Lyne Martin-Modica and Board member Kevin Modica.

CASA’s Glenn Goodfellow and Carla Rose.

From CASA:

When a child who has been abused or neglected is going through the trauma of the foster care system, a CASA advocate is tirelessly working to guide them through safely, quickly, and effectively.

A CASA advocate is the tireless and passionate protector of a child who has been abused or neglected and is going through the trauma of the foster care system. They are granted tremendous authority by the court, and are able to do what it takes to see that a child is not ignored, their best interests and critical needs are addressed, and that the presiding judge is able to understand the true facts of a child’s condition in an over-burdened child welfare system.

CASAs are in a unique position to work in the system without being of the system. Throughout the process, CASAs have permission to visit the children regularly, talk to a child’s parents, teachers, caseworkers, doctors and therapists in order to hear all perspectives and give an unbiased portrayal of the case to the judge. CASA advocates help kids through the system safely, quickly, and more effectively.

Our Vision: To advocate for a child in the foster care system who has been abused or neglected and to get them into a permanent home safely, quickly and effectively.

Our mission: We advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children who are under the protection of the court. We dedicate our resources to recruiting, training, and supporting citizen volunteers in order to provide quality advocacy to as many children as we can.

For new program developments, visit our New Initiatives page.

Read more about CASA For Children of Multnomah, Washington and Columbia Counties from our recent Annual Reports and Audited Financial Statements on our News & Publications page.

To find out more about our organization, please visit casahelpskids.org.

Elisa Klein

I’ve been a professional journalist and writer since 1987, (and long-time reporter for KOIN-TV.) As a nationally published reporter, with a Master’s Degree in Journalism, I love to report positive news and information. Journalism has also connected me with another non-profit where I served as a leader; the Northwest’s biggest writer’s organization: The Willamette Writers.