Maryland CASA Association Receives National Grant to Benefit Additional Abused, Neglected Children
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Patrick Seidl, Development & Communications AssociatePhone: 410-828-6761Email: Patrick@marylandcasa.org
Maryland CASA Association Receives National Grant to Benefit Additional Abused, Neglected Children
TOWSON, MD (Nov. 30, 2016) – Maryland Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Association has been awarded a $50,000 Capacity Building Grant from the National CASA Association to expand its services on behalf of abused and neglected children.“We are very excited to have been selected to receive these funds, which will help us to expand services to vulnerable children in targeted areas of the state,” said Ed Kilcullen, Maryland CASA’s state director.Maryland CASA was among only five state organizations across the country to be awarded capacity-building grants. The federal grant funds distributed through National CASA are provided by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), US Department of Justice, as authorized under the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990; they are awarded through a competitive process.“National CASA Association is excited to partner closely with this year’s grant awardees on significant initiatives that promote large-scale collaboration, statewide growth, and our commitment to developing state organizations,” said Tara Perry, CEO for The National CASA Association. “Projects funded through our 2016 grants program are designed to achieve growth and capacity levels that will take the collaborative work of state organizations and local programs to new levels.”Funds will be used by Maryland CASA to increase the number of abused and neglected children in Maryland who have CASA volunteers helping them find safe, permanent homes; the organization will work with at least two local CASA programs to build their capacity to serve more children.Today in Maryland, there are nearly 5,000 abused and neglected children in the foster care system as a result of abuse and/or neglect and an additional at-risk 3,000 children receiving comprehensive in-home services. Last year, nearly 1,400 CASA volunteers provided one-on-one advocacy for more than 1,500 abused and neglected children in the state but only one in five children who needs a CASA volunteer has one. “This project will allow us to reach more children who need CASA volunteers to ensure they receive needed services and reach safe, permanent homes in a timely manner,” added Kilcullen.Those interested in learning more about Maryland CASA, or becoming a CASA volunteer are urged to contact 410-828-6761 or visit www.marylandcasa.org for more information.About Maryland CASA AssociationMaryland CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Association is the statewide organization for the 15 local CASA programs that recruit and train volunteers to advocate for children in the child protection system. Last year, 1,395 CASA volunteers served 1,576 children in Baltimore City and 20 of Maryland’s 23 counties. Maryland CASA supports the local CASA programs by advocating for effective public policy for children in the child protection system and by providing training and technical assistance to program staff, board and volunteers. For more information about Maryland CASA or becoming a CASA volunteer, visit www.marylandcasa.org or call 410-828-6761.About the National CASA AssociationThe National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association, together with its state and local member programs, supports and promotes court-appointed volunteer advocacy so every abused or neglected child in the United States can be safe, have a permanent home and the opportunity to thrive. Today, more than 76,000 CASA and GAL volunteers serve more than 250,000 children, but approximately 400,000 children are without an advocate. National CASA Association is working in partnership with its state and local programs in 49 states to close that gap to ensure the highest quality advocacy on behalf of America’s most vulnerable children. For more information, visit www.CASAforChildren.org.
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