TITLE: Proclaiming February 12, 2015, CASA Day at the State Capitol.

SUMMARY: Proclaiming February 12, 2015, CASA Day at the State Capitol.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to honor Texas Court Appointed Special Advocates and to recognize February 12, 2015, as CASA Day at the State Capitol; and WHEREAS, Texas CASA is part of a national volunteer movement begun in the 1970s that enlists community volunteers to serve as court advocates for abused and neglected children; these volunteers research the child's situation, provide critical information and recommendations to judges about what is best for the child, and help ensure that children in the foster care system find safe, permanent homes as soon as possible; and WHEREAS, The first CASA program in Texas began in Dallas some 35 years ago; Texas CASA was formed in 1989 and recently celebrated its 25th anniversary; Texas CASA provides funding, training, coordination, and assistance to 71 local CASA programs statewide that last year engaged more than 8,000 volunteers, who gave life-changing advocacy, help, and encouragement to 24,742 children, more than 50 percent of the children in the foster care system; and WHEREAS, CASA volunteers help to give children in the foster care system hope for a better future and provide courts with information they need to make well-informed decisions in child protective services cases, and their efforts help to ensure that the system functions as intended; all those associated with CASA are truly deserving of recognition for their service to the State of Texas, its courts, and its children; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th Legislature, hereby proclaim February 12, 2015, as CASA Day at the State Capitol and commend the organization for its noble efforts to aid abused and neglected children; and, be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate. Nelson President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on January 28, 2015.