TITLE: Recognizing March 1, 2023, as CASA Day at the State Capitol.

SUMMARY: Recognizing March 1, 2023, as CASA Day at the State Capitol.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The volunteers, staff, and board members who make up the Texas Court Appointed Special Advocates network are gathering in Austin on March 1, 2023, for CASA Day at the State Capitol; and WHEREAS, Texas CASA is part of a national volunteer movement that began in 1977 and enlists local community volunteers to support children and families involved in the foster care system; beginning in 1979 with the first CASA program in Dallas, and followed by the formation of Texas CASA in 1989, judges and communities across the state have worked to expand CASA's services; and WHEREAS, Providing 73 local programs in 219 of the state's 254 counties, Texas CASA has grown to become one of the largest such initiatives in the nation; through their advocacy efforts in the 2022 fiscal year, CASA volunteers made a difference for nearly 24,000 youth by helping to build family connections and working to address each child's mental, medical, and educational needs during their time in foster care; and WHEREAS, CASA volunteers are appointed by a judge to provide valuable information and to make informed recommendations to courts that serve the best interests of each child; and WHEREAS, The CASA network in Texas works tirelessly to ensure that the organization grows in size in order to serve more children and families and grows in understanding and practice to ensure that CASA serves those children and families as informed, collaborative partners in an ever-evolving system of care; and WHEREAS, All those associated with CASA are truly deserving of recognition for their important work and service to the State of Texas, its courts, its children, and its families; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas Legislature hereby recognize March 1, 2023, as CASA Day at the State Capitol and commend the organization for its diligent efforts to aid abused and neglected children in the State of Texas; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for CASA as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Frank Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 426 was adopted by the House on March 1, 2023, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House