The Washoe Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Foundation is in need of new volunteers to assist our community by serving as a voice for abused and neglected children.
There are more than 900 children in Washoe County, with only 100 CASAs in the community.
CASAs are court-appointed special advocates for the Washoe County courts, and after training, volunteers are empowered directly by the courts to offer judges critical information they need to ensure that a child’s rights and needs are being attended to while in foster care. Volunteers stay with children until they are placed in loving permanent homes.
“Every day in Washoe County, far too many children become victims of abuse or neglect,” said Mary Herzik, Second Judicial District Court family services manager. “Sometimes abuse or neglect comes at the hands of parents or guardians, causing law enforcement or social services to remove children from their home and place them into foster care. Enter Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) – CASAs are trained community volunteers whose advocacy over the last 25 years has proven to change the lives of foster children. CASA provides a powerful voice for these children within the court system, speaking up for their best interests and helping the court obtain a firsthand understanding of the situation and needs of the child.”
The Washoe County CASA Program is one of 949 state and local CASA organizations that recruit, train and support CASA volunteers to serve as a voice for abused and neglected children. The Washoe CASA Foundation provides funding for volunteer training, recruitment and community awareness. The Foundation’s financial support has enabled CASA volunteers to secure needed services for their child such as after school tutoring, paying for a recreational program or purchasing clothes or school supplies.
The Washoe CASA Foundation is hosting Coffee4Casa, an event to raise awareness and recruit new volunteers for the program.
From 7 a.m. – 1 p.m., coffee shops around the Reno area will be hosts to Washoe CASA information centers so people can find out more about how to become involved.
Informational cards about how to become a CASA volunteer, how to donate and how to become a Friend of CASA will be available at each table. Coffee4CASA coffee sleeves will be used with all drinks purchased. Volunteers from Kappa Alpha Theta will be in attendance to answer questions about Washoe CASA. Kappa Alpha Theta supports CASA nationally.
Participating locations are: Bibo Coffee Company, Blue Whale Coffee Co., Hi Point Coffee & Café, Hub Coffee Roasters, My Favorite Muffin, The Jungle, Old World Coffee Lab, and Swill Coffee & Wine.
For more information about Coffee4CASA and the Washoe CASA Foundation, please visit: washoecasafoundation.com
