History
CASA of Grayson County is part of a national volunteer movement that began in 1977 when Judge David Soukup in Seattle decided he needed to know more about the children whose lives were in his hands. His solution was to ask community volunteers to act as a “voice in court” for children involved in the child welfare system. These Court Appointed Special Advocate® (CASAs) provided him with the detailed information he needed to safeguard the children’s best interests. The program was so successful that it was copied around the nation.
CASA of Grayson County has continued to serve abused and neglected children in our community by providing trained community volunteers to speak up for children in the child welfare system.
CASA of Grayson County is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization governed by a volunteer board of directors, and is a member of the National and Texas CASA Associations. There are more than 1,000 CASA programs nationwide and 71 CASA programs in the state of Texas.
Mission
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Grayson County is a non-profit organization dedicated to training and equipping our community to protect children, empower families, and advocate for positive outcomes for children involved in the child welfare system.
Vision
CASA envisions a community of healthy children and families on a positive trajectory for a brighter future.
VAlues
Be The
Commitment
Heart
Advocate w/honesty and integrity
Needed Consistency
Guidance
Empowered Volunteer
Every child needs
Guiding Principles
Recognizes the importance of family preservation and/or reunification:
- It is in a child’s best interests to remain with their family of origin when safely possible.
- Acknowledges that children experience trauma when separated from their family of origin.
- If a child is removed from their family of origin, it is in the child’s best interests to be reunified with their family of origin as soon as safely possible.
- If a child is removed from their family of origin, the child should be placed with a relative whenever safely possible and in the child’s best interests.
- Strengthening families, through recommendations for services, supports, visitation and communications, is in the child’s best interests to achieve stability and/or reunification.
- Requires and demonstrates respect for the parents and all parties associated with the case.
- Ensures that information regarding the family’s strengths is incorporated into reports to the court.
- Ensures that information regarding the child’s wishes is incorporated into reports to the court.
- When a court determines a child cannot be safely reunified with their family of origin consistent with legal mandates, another permanent placement is in a child’s best interests.
Recognize the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion:
- All children regardless of age, race, ethnicity, national origin (ancestry), color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability or physical challenge, or socioeconomic status should be safe, have a permanent home and an opportunity to thrive.
- Acknowledges the existence of implicit bias and takes steps to minimize and/or eliminate implicit bias.
- Demonstrates an understanding of disproportionality impacting children who are in the child protection system due to allegations of abuse or neglect.
