CASA Lake County awarded nearly $100K national grant

CASA Lake County has been awarded a nearly $100,000 Volunteer Recruitment Grant from the National CASA/GAL Association to help expand volunteer recruitment efforts in Lake County.

CASA Lake County recruits, trains, and supports community volunteers who advocate for the best interests of children involved in court 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 or youth reaches a safe and permanent home, preferably with their family of origin whenever safely possible.

Like many CASA programs across the country, CASA Lake County continues to see a significant need for additional volunteer advocates to support children experiencing foster care. The grant funding will help expand community outreach and awareness efforts to recruit more volunteers and ensure more children have access to the consistent support and advocacy they need during critical moments in their lives.

The National CASA/GAL Volunteer Recruitment Grant will support increased marketing and outreach efforts to help CASA Lake County recruit more volunteers to serve children experiencing foster care in Lake County.

“This grant will allow CASA Lake County to expand awareness of our mission and reach more individuals who are willing to step forward as volunteer advocates for children who have experienced abuse and neglect,” said Terri Zenner Greenberg of CASA Lake County. “Every child deserves a consistent adult advocating for their best interests during one of the most difficult times in their life. Increased volunteer recruitment means we can provide support, stability, and hope to more children and youth in Lake County.”

There are 939 CASA/GAL state organizations and local programs operating in 49 states and the District of Columbia. This funding is provided under the OJJDP FY24 Court Appointed Special Advocates Training, Technical Assistance, and Subgrants 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 primarily for the purpose of increasing the number of Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem volunteers to advocate for the best interests 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.

To learn more about CASA Lake County, volunteer, or support CASA Lake County’s mission, visit casalakecounty.com.

To learn more about the National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem Association, visit nationalcasagal.org.