SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 154

WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to join Texans across the state in recognizing February 16, 2017, as CASA Day at the Capitol and to honor the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Texas; and

WHEREAS, The Court Appointed Special Advocates, or national CASA movement, traces its roots to 1977, when a Seattle judge began using community volunteers to serve as a voice for abused and neglected children in his courtroom; the first CASA program in Texas was formed in Dallas in 1980, and Texas CASA was established in 1989 to serve as a statewide hub for this critical work; and

WHEREAS, Texas CASA coordinates the efforts of 72 local CASA programs across the state; in 2016, more than 9,100 volunteers served nearly 28,000 children and young people in state care; and

WHEREAS, Texas CASA has launched two major initiatives to better serve the children in the state's care; the Collaborative Family Engagement program works to identify and engage families in the process of building a supportive network for children; the Permanent Managing Conservatorship is a three-year effort to improve advocacy and serve more children in long-term foster care; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th Legislature, hereby commend the state's Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteers on their dedication to serving some of the state's most vulnerable citizens and extend to them best wishes for a productive and memorable CASA Day at the Capitol; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in honor of this special occasion.

Nelson

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on February 15, 2017.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate