2023S0141-1 02/15/23
 
  By: Kolkhorst, Hughes S.R. No. 256
 
 
 
SENATE RESOLUTION
         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 to enlist local community volunteers
  to support children and families involved in the foster care
  system; beginning in 1979 with the first Texas CASA program which
  was established in Dallas, and followed by the formation of Texas
  CASA in 1989, judges, individual volunteers, and communities
  across the state have worked to expand CASA's initiatives; and
         WHEREAS, Providing 72 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 2020 fiscal year, CASA volunteers made a difference for
  29,229 young people by helping build community connections and
  pathways to resiliency and healing from trauma; and
         WHEREAS, CASA volunteers are appointed by a judge to
  provide valuable information to them and to make informed
  recommendations to the courts so that they can act in the best
  interests of each child; and
         WHEREAS, The CASA network in Texas works tirelessly to
  serve more children and families and to ensure that it 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 Senate of the State of Texas, 88th
  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; and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
  the organization as an expression of esteem from the Texas
  Senate.