11 Feb OneOK/One Gas Foundation Awards $2,500 Grant to Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) was recently awarded a $2,500 grant from the OneOK/ One Gas Foundation to support its Child Advocacy program.

The Child Advocacy program provides volunteers to advocate for children involved in the court systems of Johnson and Wyandotte counties due to abuse, neglect, or other forms of maltreatment, and to children involved in the court system of Johnson county due to divorce-related issues such as custody or visitation disputes.

CASA Volunteers and CASA Program Coordinators together play a critical role in ensuring children involved in the court system are safe from further abuse and neglect, and that their best interests are held paramount by the court system. Volunteers and Coordinators help children navigate the maze of the child welfare and Family Court systems and work to find children safe and permanent homes as quickly as possible.

Since 1985, CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Johnson and Wyandotte Counties has empowered abused and neglected children with a volunteer’s voice in court by seeking a safe and permanent home for each child. The agency recruits, trains, and supports community volunteers who act as advocates in court on behalf of child victims of abuse or neglect. As these children enter the court system, they may feel alone, frightened, or unheard. CASA volunteers develop relationships with these children, becoming a caring and trusting presence in the life of a child. Volunteers play another crucial role by monitoring a child’s situation, reporting their findings to the court. Each year, CASA volunteers within Johnson and Wyandotte Counties dedicate more than 14,000 hours to children, with each hour focused on the same goal – to give each child a chance at happiness and the stability that all kids need in order to thrive.