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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The volunteers, staff, and board members who make up |
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the Texas Court Appointed Special Advocates organization are |
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gathering in Austin on January 30, 2013, for CASA Day at the |
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Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, Court appointed special advocates are individuals |
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who speak up for children removed from their homes due to abuse or |
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neglect; sworn in by judges, CASA volunteers make certain that |
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these young people have a voice in the family court, social service, |
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and foster care systems, and the advocates remain focused on each |
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child until he or she is placed in a safe, permanent home and the |
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case is closed; often, the volunteers are a rare source of stability |
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in the lives of the young people they assist; and |
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WHEREAS, The CASA movement began in Seattle in 1977, when a |
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judge realized that he needed to know more about the young victims |
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of abuse and neglect who appeared in his courtroom; the |
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contributions of the volunteers who responded to his request for |
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assistance were so valuable that the program quickly spread to |
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other states; the first CASA program in Texas began in 1979, and |
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there are currently 69 local programs in the state that together |
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provide life-changing advocacy to more than half of the children in |
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the foster care system; and |
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WHEREAS, A diverse group that comes from a broad range of |
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backgrounds, CASA volunteers in Texas research a child's situation, |
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offer information and recommendations about the individual's best |
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interests, and work with the state to find the young person a |
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"forever family"; in 2012, more than 7,200 volunteers gave help and |
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hope to more than 22,900 children; and |
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WHEREAS, Countless residents of Texas benefit from the |
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critical services provided by CASA volunteers, whose work ensures |
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that a most vulnerable group in our society is not forgotten; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize January 30, 2013, as CASA Day at the |
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Capitol and commend all those associated with Texas CASA for their |
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steadfast commitment and admirable achievements; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the organization as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |