85R10773 KSM-D
By: Frank H.R. No. 398
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The volunteers, staff, and board members who make up
the Texas Court Appointed Special Advocates organization are
gathering in Austin on February 16, 2017, for CASA Day at the State
Capitol; and
WHEREAS, Texas CASA is part of a national volunteer movement
begun in the 1970s that enlists community volunteers to serve as
court advocates for abused and neglected children; these volunteers
research the child's situation, provide critical information and
recommendations to judges about what is best for the child, and help
ensure that children in the foster care system find safe, permanent
homes as soon as possible; and
WHEREAS, The first CASA program in Texas began in Dallas more
than 35 years ago, and Texas CASA was formed in 1989; the
organization provides funding, training, coordination, and
assistance to 72 local CASA programs statewide that last year
engaged more than 9,100 volunteers, who gave life-changing
advocacy, help, and encouragement to nearly 28,000 children and
young people in state care; and
WHEREAS, CASA volunteers help to give children in the foster
care system hope for a better future and provide courts with
information they need to make well-informed decisions in child
protective services cases, and their efforts help to ensure that
the system functions as intended; all those associated with CASA
are truly deserving of recognition for their service to the State of
Texas, its courts, and its children; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize February 16, 2017, as CASA Day at the
State Capitol and commend the organization for its noble efforts to
aid abused and neglected children; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for CASA as an expression of high regard by the Texas House
of Representatives.