The eighth judicial district courts (EJDCS) court appointed special advocate (CASA) program proposes to implement the CASA recruitment and expansion project

The Eighth Judicial District Court in Las Vegas, Nevada was awarded a $800,000 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice's Congressionally Recommended Awards program (CFDA 16.753) to implement the CASA Recruitment and Expansion Project. This 2-year project aims to develop an extensive media and marketing campaign to promote the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program's mission and enhance volunteer recruitment efforts. The goal is to provide every abused and neglected child in Clark County's foster care system, numbering over 3,400, with a CASA volunteer to advocate for their best interests throughout the justice system. The grant will fund personnel, volunteer appreciation events, and the court's participation in the National CASA/GAL Association conference to highlight the CASA volunteer program and its impact. The expected outcome is an increase in CASA volunteers to address the needs of abused and neglected children involved in the justice system.

The mission of the EJDCS CASA program is to support and promote court appointed volunteer advocacy for abused and neglected children so that they can thrive in a safe, permanent home. The nevada revised statute requires that every abused and neglected children who is found to be in need of protection be appointed a guardian ad litem. In nevada, the CASA volunteers serve this role. There are more than 3400 abused and neglected children in clark countys foster care system. Since there are not enough CASA volunteers to appoint to every abused and neglected child, CASA volunteers are appointed to the more complex cases. The purpose of this project is todevelop an extensive media/marketing campaign to promote casas mission and enhance the programs recruitment efforts to provide every abused and neglected child a voice throughout the justice system in clark county, nevada. CASA volunteers are well-trained and speak in court for the best interest of abused and neglected children. The volunteer's goal is to provide a carefully researched background of the child to help the court make a sound decision about the child's future. Each home placement case is as unique as the child involved. The volunteer researches the child's best interests to stay with his or her parents or guardians, be placed in foster care, or permanent adoption. The volunteer follows the case until IT is permanently resolved. CASA volunteers are often the only stable factor in an often frightening and difficult ordeal for a child. In addition to being the voice of the child, the program is responsible for recruiting, screening, training and continued support for all CASA volunteers. Currently, the program has approximately 448 volunteers, who represent the best interest of approximately 850 abused and neglected children annually. The project would help raise awareness of CASA and increase volunteer recruitments, decreasing the number of children without a volunteer. Project activities include increasing community awareness of CASA to grow volunteer recruitment, through media buys. Increasing volunteer retention through funding non-profit personnel, volunteer appreciation events, and the ability to attend the national CASA/ GAL association conference to highlight the CASA volunteers and the work done. Expected outcome is the increase in CASA volunteers to address the needs of abused and neglected children involved in the justice system.