HLS 22RS-1848 ORIGINAL
2022 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 54
BY REPRESENTATIVE DUSTIN MILLER
COMMENDATIONS: Commends the Louisiana Court Appointed Special Advocate
(CASA) program and its volunteers
1 A RESOLUTION
2To commend the Louisiana Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program and its
3 volunteers.
4 WHEREAS, the people of Louisiana pride themselves on giving back to the
5community and contributing to the improvement of the quality of life of all citizens; and
6 WHEREAS, the mission of CASA is to give every child who is a victim of abuse or
7neglect an opportunity to thrive and establish permanence with quality advocacy from a
8CASA volunteer; and
9 WHEREAS, the CASA programs in Louisiana, in association with the National
10CASA Association, advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children; CASA
11volunteers are trained citizens appointed by a judge to represent these children; and
12 WHEREAS, there are seventeen CASA programs serving sixty-one parishes across
13the state of Louisiana, with donated service hours by CASA volunteers valued at $1.5
14million; and
15 WHEREAS, in 2021, there were 47,091 reports of child abuse or neglect in
16Louisiana; approximately 5,700 of Louisiana's children were unable to live safely with their
17families and had been placed in foster care; and
18 WHEREAS, in that same year, approximately 3,500 Louisiana children were served
19by 1,600 CASA volunteers; these volunteers selflessly donated more than 53,000 hours of
20volunteer service to our state's foster children; and
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HR NO. 54
1 WHEREAS, Sara Ghere, a volunteer with CASA of Terrebonne, has been named
2CASA Advocate of the Year in recognition of her exemplary service; and
3 WHEREAS, Louisiana's CASA programs and all CASA volunteers merit a special
4measure of commendation for the outstanding work that they do on behalf of the abused and
5neglected children in the state.
6 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
7Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend the Louisiana Court Appointed Special
8Advocate (CASA) program and its volunteers; does hereby further recognize Sara Ghere and
9all other CASA volunteers for their incredibly selfless service to the abused and neglected
10children in Louisiana; and does hereby extend sincere wishes that CASA continue to receive
11such vital aid and support from generous Louisianans so it can continue to serve as a voice
12for children in need.
13 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
14executive director of Louisiana CASA.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HR 54 Original 2022 Regular Session Dustin Miller
Commends the La. Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program and its volunteers.
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