88R13898 CJM-D
 
  By: Frank H.R. No. 426
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         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.