Falls Church, VA – Northern Virginia Family Services' Alexandria/Arlington CASA Program has been awarded a grant from the National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Association.
The Alexandria/Arlington CASA Program recruits, trains and supports volunteers who advocate for the best interests of children who are involved in judicial proceedings related to abuse or neglect. Volunteer advocates are trained to support children through regular visits, information gathering, court reporting and continuous case monitoring until the child/youth has a permanent home, preferably with their family of origin whenever safely possible.
The National CASA/GAL Grant will enable the Alexandria/Arlington CASA Program to support trained volunteer advocates who provide consistency and stability for children navigating court proceedings. CASA volunteers build trusted relationships with children through regular visits, gather information from the adults involved in their lives, provide recommendations to the court, and monitor each case until the child achieves a permanent home.
"This needs-based funding ensures that the children we serve can rely on consistent, uninterrupted services, allowing us to maintain momentum, respond to the needs of the community, and continue to provide best-interest child advocacy,” said Amy Wilker, Director of Child & Family Wellbeing at NVFS.
There are 939 CASA/GAL state organizations and local programs operating in 49 states and the District of Columbia. This funding is provided under the OJJDP FY24 Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Training, Technical Assistance, and Subgrants Program (CFDA #16.756) to manage a national grant awards program on behalf of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) primarily for the purpose of increasing the number Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/Guardian ad Litem (GAL) volunteers to advocate for the best interest of children who have experienced abuse or neglect and are the subject of civil court child abuse and neglect proceedings. National CASA/GAL administers the grants program under a cooperative agreement with OJJDP which is authorized pursuant to the Victims of Child Abuse Act, 34 USC §20323.
###
About NVFS
For more than 100 years, Northern Virginia Family Services (NVFS) has provided the breadth and depth of services needed to help individuals and families thrive at every stage of life. From housing and health care to workforce development and early childhood education, NVFS delivers the essential building blocks of financial, emotional, and physical well-being. Each year, NVFS empowers more than 40,000 of our neighbors to achieve their goals, strengthening families, fostering resilience, and building a connected community for generations to come.
About the National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem Association
The National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Association, together with its 939 state and local program members, supports and promotes court-appointed volunteer advocacy so that every child who is involved in judicial proceedings related to abuse or neglect in the United States can be safe, have a permanent home and have the opportunity to thrive. National CASA/GAL offers leadership and support to the network of programs and leads its continued growth. CASA/GAL volunteers and staff work every day to advocate for children/youth and to strengthen and support families. To learn more, visit nationalcasagal.org.
"This needs-based funding ensures that the children we serve can rely on consistent, uninterrupted services, allowing us to maintain momentum, respond to the needs of the community, and continue to provide best-interest child advocacy."
