SLS 19RS-264 ENGROSSED 2019 Regular Session SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 13 BY SENATOR JOHNS AND REPRESENTATI VE LEGER SPECIAL DAY/WEEK/MONTH. Commends the Louisiana Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) programs and volunteers for their outstanding work on behalf of the abused and neglected children and designates April 17, 2019, as CASA Day at the Legislature. 1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION 2 To recognize April 17, 2019, as CASA Day at the Legislature and to commend the 3 Louisiana Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) programs and volunteers for 4 their outstanding work on behalf of the abused and neglected children of Louisiana. 5 WHEREAS, the people of Louisiana pride themselves on giving back to the 6 community and contributing to the improvement of the quality of life of all citizens; and 7 WHEREAS, the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) programs in Louisiana, 8 in association with the National CASA Association, speak for the best interests of abused 9 and neglected children; CASA volunteers are trained citizens appointed by a judge to 10 represent these children; and 11 WHEREAS, the first CASA program in Louisiana began in 1986 in Orleans Parish; 12 in 2019 there are eighteen CASA programs serving fifty-five parishes across the state, with 13 donated service hours by CASA volunteers valued at $1.7 million; and 14 WHEREAS, nearly 14,000 children in Louisiana suffer some form of abuse or 15 neglect each year; and 16 WHEREAS, approximately 4,800 of Louisiana's children are currently unable to live 17 safely with their families and have been placed in foster homes and institutions; and 18 WHEREAS, in 2018 more than 4,142 Louisiana children were served by Page 1 of 2 SCR NO. 13 SLS 19RS-264 ENGROSSED 1 approximately 2,264 CASA volunteers who provided more than 67,769 hours of volunteer 2 service to Louisiana's foster children; and 3 WHEREAS, Louisiana's CASA programs and volunteers merit a special measure of 4 commendation for the outstanding work that they do on behalf of the abused and neglected 5 children of Louisiana. 6 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby 7 recognize and commend the Louisiana Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) programs 8 across the state and the CASA volunteers who give tirelessly of their time and energy to 9 serve as powerful voices for children. 10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Wednesday, April 17, 2019, is hereby 11 recognized as CASA Day at the Legislature. 12 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted 13 to the president of the Louisiana CASA Association. The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Yoursheka George. DIGEST SCR 13 Engrossed 2019 Regular Session Johns Commends the La. Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) programs and volunteers and designates April 17, 2019, as CASA Day at the Legislature. Page 2 of 2