WISCONSIN COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATE ASSOCIATION (WI CASA) RECEIVES $15,000 GRANT FROM DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
 

MADISON - The Wisconsin Department of Justice, Office of Crime Victim Services has awarded the Wisconsin Court Appointed Special Advocate Association (WI CASA) a grant in the amount of $15,000 to be used to fund a statewide program development initiative. The award is made possible through a grant from the Children's Justice Act (CJA) program.

The Wisconsin Children's Justice Act grant program is committed to improving the investigation and prosecution of child abuse and neglect.

"Increasing the number of county Court Appointed Special Advocate programs and the number of Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteers ensures that more children will have advocates working on their behalf during the difficult investigation of abuse and neglect."

With about 7,000 children in Wisconsin's foster care system, CASA currently has the annual capacity to serve about 550 children in 10 counties. That is only about 8% of the total number of children who could benefit from an advocate. In addition, CASA programs are available in only 14% of Wisconsin counties. With this CJA grant, Wisconsin CASA will work to support and expand a growing statewide network of CASA programs and advocates.