FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS
Contact: Arika Adams, Executive Director
Email: aadams@casadc.org
Phone: 202-887-0007
Alexandra Fields-Evans, Senior Manager
Photo credit: NCASA/GAL Association for Children
Washington, DC children’s advocacy organization wins prestigious national award
Washington, DC – June 22, 2022 – CASA for Children DC, a local organization that advocates for children who have experienced foster care, has been chosen to receive the Promising Practices Spotlight Award by the National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian Ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Association for Children. The announcement was made at the organization’s Awards of Excellence ceremony on June 6, 2022. CASA for Children DC is one of 950 state organizations and local CASA/GAL programs nationwide.
CASA/GAL programs recruit, train and support volunteers who advocate in court for the best interests of children who have experience in the child welfare system. CASA for Children of DC has been a leading voice for DC’s youth in foster care for 20 years, training over 2,200 volunteers to serve more than 2,000 youth impacted by abuse and neglect. The National CASA/GAL Association’s Promising Practices Spotlight Award highlights a successful, replicable practice that exemplifies creativity in a program’s pursuit to provide that quality advocacy.
This year, CASA for Children DC was recognized for its BRIDGES program, an innovative project that provides best interest advocacy to DC’s justice-involved youth, including dual jacket youth involved in both the child welfare and justice systems. Recognizing that the “Foster Care to Prison Pipeline” is a reality that too many youth face, CASA for Children DC formed the BRIDGES program in 2019. It has supported more than 100 dual-jacket and justice-involved youth since its inception.
“The BRIDGES Program has built its work around key protective factors specifically identified to prevent juvenile delinquency and to promote safety for youth. In 2020, with support from their CASA volunteers, 91% of BRIDGES youth avoided sentencing following probation – 50% higher than the general DC juvenile justice population,” said Arika Adams, Executive Director. “We are so proud that currently 80% of BRIDGES youth are on track for successful case closure.”
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About CASA for Children DC
CASA for Children of DC's mission is to provide every child and young person who has experienced trauma in DC with a caring adult who will advocate for their best interests while developing a relationship out 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 youth in DC.
Joe Bankoff, Chair, NCASA/GAL Association Board of Trustees; Angela Nivens, Alexandra Fields-Evans, CASA of DC, and Tara Lisa Perry, CEO NCASA/GAL Association for Children
Photo Credit: NCASA/GAL Association for Children
Judge Anthony Capizzi, and Alexandra Fields-Evans
Photo Credit: NCASA/GAL Association for Children