Vancouver – YWCA Clark County’s Court Appointed Special Advocate, or CASA, program was nationally certified recently. The National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association certified that YWCA’s program is in compliance with its “high standards for quality child advocacy,” the nonprofit said in a news release.
“The National CASA quality assurance process is very rigorous and reflects our commitment to ensure every child served has a powerful volunteer advocate working on their behalf,” said Tara Perry, chief executive officer of the National CASA Association. The certification says that YWCA’s program “has demonstrated to us the capacity to provide excellent advocacy to the abused and neglected children within their community.”
Advocates speak for the best interests of abused and neglected children in court. There are 950 nationally certified CASA programs across the country.
YWCA’s CASA program started in 1982 and currently advocates for 379 families and 646 children. An average of 25 foster children are assigned to an advocate each month. There are 10 paid specialists and 131 volunteer advocates. Contact CASA Director Wendy Lenz at 360-696-0167 or wlenz@ywcaclarkcounty.org for more information.
