11/21/22 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kazia Capener
202-887-0007
CASA DC Receives Award to Support LGBTQ+ Youth
WASHINGTON, DC – CASA for Children of DC has been awarded a $30,000 Community Development grant from the District of Columbia’s Mayor’s Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning Affairs.
This historic investment of $500,000 in FY23 will fund LGBTQ+ programs that make the community a healthier and safer place for DC residents to learn, live, and express themselves. Recipients of this award are qualified Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) serving the District of Columbia’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) community and increasing equity for LGBTQ+ residents.
CASA for Children of DC’s project, Project Unity, will provide LGBTQ+ youth with the opportunity to receive mentoring services, skills workshops, and therapeutic support. CASA DC will also host three 12-week long “Unity Circle” groups (a One Circle Foundation evidence-based curriculum) to provide an environment for peer support. This project will also promote healthy development by providing free therapeutic services to DC’s LGBTQ+ youth.
“We are thrilled to take part in this movement and have funds specifically tailored towards empowering DC’s LGBTQ+ youth” said ARIKA ADAMS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR of CASA for Children of DC. “We know that LGBTQ+ youth, especially those intersecting with the foster care system, face unique challenges. CASA DC is excited to provide support for these youth, helping them to embrace their identities and to reach their full potential.”
To refer a youth for CASA DC services, please visit:
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About CASA for Children of DC
CASA for Children of DC’s mission is to provide every child and young person in DC who has experienced trauma with a caring adult who will advocate for their best interests while developing a relationship of trust. CASA DC helps DC’s youth thrive, not just survive. This mission is carried out through the recruitment, training, and support of volunteer court-appointed special advocates (CASA volunteers) who provide mentorship and best interest advocacy to foster and juvenile justice youth in DC. It is our vision that every vulnerable youth in DC receives excellent advocacy and support to unleash their full potential and thrive.
About The Mayor’s Office of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Affairs (MOGLBTA)
The Mayor’s Office of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Affairs (MOGLBTA) was created through the Office of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Affairs Act of 2005. The District of Columbia is and has been a leader in LGBTQ+ rights in the nation. The mission of the MOLGBTQA is to address the important concerns of the District’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning residents through empowering young LGBTQ+ community leaders, removing barriers for LGBTQ+ business owners, building a cohesive LGBTQ+ community across all eight wards, and providing resources for at-risk LGBTQ+ populations. To learn more visit https://communityaffairs.dc.gov/molgbtqa.