Morris County joins hundreds at Capitol for CASA Day

Bee Staff Report –Morris and surrounding counties joined more than 300 CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) volunteers, board members and staff from across the state at the Capitol to speak up for children in the child welfare system.

Mr. Tony Gesino and Ms. Judy Kent, Legislative Advocacy Team Chairperson for CASA of Titus, Camp and Morris Counties traveled to Austin as part of CASA Day at the Capitol, the one day each legislative session that the CASA community assembles to bring attention to improving outcomes for children and youth in the foster care system.

The CASA of Morris and surrounding ceounties team met with its local Texas legislators including State Representative Bryan Hughes to discuss policy priorities to improve issues in the state’s child welfare system identified by the Sunset Commission and to promote the well-being of children and youth in care. “Traveling to Austin and meeting with our state leaders in the Capitol during the legislative session is empowering,” said Woodruff, Executive Director of CASA of Titus, Camp and Morris Counties. “We get the opportunity to speak up on behalf of the children we serve and ask our legislators to make them a top priority.” CASA of Morris and surrounding counties provide 30 CASA volunteers to 94 children in Titus, Camp and Morris Counties. Statewide, 8,066 CASA volunteers advocate for 23,742 foster children. With 46,823 children in the custody of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services because of evidence of abuse and neglect, a CASA volunteer has been provided for just over half of these children.

 

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