CASA Year in Review: 2008

By: Marianne Clauw (2008 Friends of CASA Board Chair)

2008 was a year of commitment and growth for the CASA Washtenaw program. 40 CASA volunteers were advocates for 87 children who had been removed from their homes because of neglect or abuse. These volunteers demonstrated that commitment, persistence, and caring make an enormous difference in the lives of these children. 15 new volunteers were trained and sworn in as CASAs in 2008, continuing the growth of the Washtenaw CASA program.

The Washtenaw County Trial Court-Juvenile Division and the Friends of CASA demonstrated commitment to our government/nonprofit partnership in 2008. The two year Expansion Grant received from the National CASA organization in 2006 expired as planned in June, 2008. The Court and the Friends of CASA are pleased to report that the community outreach and fundraising efforts of the Friends of CASA have resulted in a smooth transition to local funding of the program. The Court demonstrated confidence and commitment to the partnership by including the entire program in the 2008/2009 court budget, including the continued salary grants from the Friends of CASA. This is a very significant step, as the salary grants can now be matched by the State of Michigan Child Care Fund, because CASA is a fully budgeted program.

The Friends of CASA took a major step forward in the hiring of our first permanent staff for the nonprofit. With the addition of an executive director and the continued efforts of the board of trustees, revenues increased from $32,000 in 2007 to $89,000 in 2008. Funding from local foundations and corporations increased, and the individual donor pool was doubled.

Growth in community outreach was a focus of the Court and the Friends of CASA in 2008. The community learned about the issue of child abuse and the CASA program via monthly presentations to civic groups, a University of Michigan campus outreach program, enhancement of electronic outreach through website, blogs, and videos, and the highly successful Rockin’ the CASA dinner dance and auction in November.

Thank you for your interest and commitment to helping the children we serve through the CASA program. It is the support of the community that allows the CASA volunteers to do their vital work.