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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Lone Star Court Appointed Special Advocates |
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celebrated the 20th anniversary of its expansion into Kaufman |
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County in 2024; and |
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WHEREAS, The organization is part of a national volunteer |
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movement that began in 1977 and enlists local community volunteers |
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to support children and families involved in the foster care |
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system; beginning in 1979 with the first CASA program in Dallas, and |
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followed by the formation of Texas CASA in 1989, judges and |
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communities across the state have worked to grow CASA's reach; and |
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WHEREAS, Lone Star CASA was founded in 1992 under the name |
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CASA of Rockwall County; prior to its introduction to the |
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community, Kaufman County lacked a dedicated child advocacy network |
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and often relied solely on the appointment of an attorney ad litem |
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in child abuse cases; recognizing this critical resource gap, the |
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organization worked with Texas CASA to initiate the approval |
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process for the extension of its service area; in 2004, the |
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organization formally launched in Kaufman County, and it was |
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renamed Lone Star CASA in reflection of its broadened mission; and |
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WHEREAS, Under the guidance of former executive director |
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Lucille Bell, the Lone Star CASA board worked tirelessly to build a |
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local presence, engaging with judges and community members, |
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recruiting volunteers, and opening a physical office space; as the |
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area has grown, the organization has since seen a substantial |
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increase in the number of cases it receives, and in 2024, its |
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volunteers served in 90 cases and assisted nearly 170 children in |
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Kaufman County; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, Lone Star CASA benefits from the able |
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guidance of its executive director, Lauren Rowe; its efforts are |
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also aided by its board of directors, which includes president |
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Sandra Ownby, vice president Donald Prentiss, secretary Kim |
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Campbell, treasurer Bryan Decker, and members Brenda Avenetti, |
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Jason LeBoeuf, Toni Gibbs, Robbie Pitts, and Natalie Read; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the past two decades, volunteers with Lone Star |
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CASA have made an immeasurable difference in the lives of numerous |
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young Texans in Kaufman County, and this noteworthy milestone |
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offers a fitting opportunity to recognize the organization for its |
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commendable work; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 20th anniversary of Lone Star |
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Court Appointed Special Advocates establishing services in Kaufman |
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County and extend to all those associated with the organization |
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sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Lone Star CASA as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |
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Bell of Kaufman |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 578 was adopted by the House on March |
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31, 2025, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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