ENROLLED
2022 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 54
BY REPRESENTATIVE DUSTIN MILLER
A RESOLUTION
To commend the Louisiana Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program and its
volunteers.
WHEREAS, the people of Louisiana pride themselves on giving back to the
community and contributing to the improvement of the quality of life of all citizens; and
WHEREAS, the mission of CASA is to give every child who is a victim of abuse or
neglect an opportunity to thrive and establish permanence with quality advocacy from a
CASA volunteer; and
WHEREAS, the CASA programs in Louisiana, in association with the National
CASA Association, advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children; CASA
volunteers are trained citizens appointed by a judge to represent these children; and
WHEREAS, there are seventeen CASA programs serving sixty-one parishes across
the state of Louisiana, with donated service hours by CASA volunteers valued at $1.5
million; and
WHEREAS, in 2021, there were 47,091 reports of child abuse or neglect in
Louisiana; approximately 5,700 of Louisiana's children were unable to live safely with their
families and had been placed in foster care; and
WHEREAS, in that same year, approximately 3,500 Louisiana children were served
by 1,600 CASA volunteers; these volunteers selflessly donated more than 53,000 hours of
volunteer service to our state's foster children; and
WHEREAS, Sara Ghere, a volunteer with CASA of Terrebonne, has been named
CASA Advocate of the Year in recognition of her exemplary service; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana's CASA programs and all CASA volunteers merit a special
measure of commendation for the outstanding work that they do on behalf of the abused and
neglected children in the state.
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THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby commend the Louisiana Court Appointed Special
Advocate (CASA) program and its volunteers; does hereby further recognize Sara Ghere and
all other CASA volunteers for their incredibly selfless service to the abused and neglected
children in Louisiana; and does hereby extend sincere wishes that CASA continue to receive
such vital aid and support from generous Louisianans so it can continue to serve as a voice
for children in need.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
executive director of Louisiana CASA.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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