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Since opening its doors in 1995, Piedmont CASA
has trained over 390 volunteers and has worked with over 900 endangered
children, promoting and supporting safe, permanent homes for these
child victims. These volunteer advocates also recommend and monitor
ongoing services to meet the physical and therapeutic needs of child
victims of abuse and neglect.
During the 2007
fiscal year 96 active CASA volunteers served 189 children whose
cases were before the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts of
Charlottesville and Albemarle County due to abuse and neglect by
their caregivers. CASA's citizen-volunteers complete 32 hours of
training before being inducted by the Court and proceeding to advocate
for the best interest of a child. No fees are charged for the services
of Piedmont CASA, and no other program provides this service. CASA
volunteers remain on a child's case for an average of 21 months.
The National
CASA Association provides leadership to nearly 900 state and local
program offices that champion the best interests of abused and neglected
children. Across the country, nearly 60,000 highly trained CASA
volunteers serve as powerful advocates for these children, one child
at a time, within the child welfare system.
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