News

CASA Launches Recruitment Campaign

May 23, 2012 4:30 am by: Kimberly Johnson

There are 30,000 kids in Texas growing up in foster care, according to CASA of Travis County. Photo courtesy flickr.com/photos/alohateamThere are 30,000 kids in Texas growing up in foster care, according to CASA of Travis County. Photo courtesy flickr.com/photos/alohateam

The people who help foster children navigate the legal system are trying to recruit more African-American volunteers to serve as court-appointed special advocates, or CASAs.

“That is not to say that volunteers of other ethnicities don’t do a good job,” said Laura Wolf, the executive director of CASA Travis County. “But when there is a common sort of ethnic and racial experience, that can be a source of comfort and confidence for a child.”

A statewide recruitment campaign launched Tuesday at Huston-Tillotson University. Volunteers can expect to spend about 20 hours a month helping foster children. They also have to complete a 30-hour training course.

May is National Foster Care Month. According to the CASA of Travis County website, there are 30,000 children in Texas growing up in foster care.

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