Hockley County Endowment Grant Story: CASA of the South Plains

CASA’s Hockley County Volunteer Advocacy Program was a recent recipient of a grant from the Hockley County Endowment in order to advance the program’s capacity in the county.

This grant enabled CASA to promote awareness of the need for CASA Volunteers through outreach efforts and by advertising locally in Hockley County, and because of this, the number of foster children in the county served by CASA grew from 23% in 2020 to 31%.

According to representative Amanda White, “CASA of the South Plains’ Volunteer Advocacy Program benefits the residents of Hockley County by ensuring that children who are experiencing the foster care system have a dedicated and trained CASA Volunteer to advocate for their best interest in the courtroom. CASA Volunteers help ensure a child who is experiencing myriad transitions and the profound effects of abuse and neglect receive services and support by addressing mental, physical, and educational needs. Most importantly, CASA assures they have someone on their side until a safe, permanent home is found. Furthermore, when a child enters foster care, a judge must appoint a Guardian ad Litem (GAL) to represent the child’s best interests. CASA supports the local community by educating, training, and preparing volunteers to fulfill the GAL role, thus saving taxpayer money. In 2021, CASA Volunteers donated 5,290 hours, resulting in a savings of $290,950 for taxpayers within our six-county service area.”

When asked about what CASA values most about Hockley County, White said, “Hockley County residents care deeply about the children in their area. Community members and business owners strive to support children and families in need, especially children who are experiencing the foster care system through no fault of their own. We appreciate how hard Hockley County works to ensure that funds raised in the community, for the community, will directly benefit those in need.

The Hockley County Endowment is proud to help CASA and other programs like its Volunteer Advocacy Program that directly aid the citizens of Levelland and Hockley County. To donate to the Hockley County Endowment and support organizations like CASA of the South Plains, donate here: hockleycountyendowment.org/donate.