BECKLEY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – CASA of New River has been awarded a $60,000 Growth Grant from the National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Association to enhance its support for children in Raleigh County impacted by the child welfare system.
CASA of New River works to recruit, train, and support volunteers who advocate for children involved in judicial proceedings related to abuse or neglect.
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These volunteer advocates are trained to provide consistent support through regular visits, information gathering, court reporting, and continuous case monitoring until the child has a permanent home, ideally with their family of origin whenever possible.
The national grant will assist CASA of New River in focusing on advocate recruitment, volunteer support, and program sustainability.
“We are watching the number of abuse and neglect cases rise across the state. The work CASA of New River has done in its’ short existence has already positively impacted children and has kept them from falling through the cracks of a broken system,” said Dr. Kristi Dumas, Executive Director of CASA of New River.
“This grant award will allow us to grow the program, add more staff, take on more cases, and be the voice for more children in the courtroom.”
There are currently 941 CASA/GAL state organizations and local programs across 49 states and the District of Columbia.
This funding is provided under the OJJDP FY2021 VOCA Children’s Advocacy National Subgrant Program (CFDA #16.756), managed by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).
The program’s primary goal is to increase the number of CASA/GAL volunteers advocating for the best interests of children who have experienced abuse or neglect and are involved in civil court proceedings related to child abuse and neglect.
CASA of New River, incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in March 2024, was spearheaded by Dr. Kristi Williams Dumas, who previously served on the West Virginia State CASA Board of Directors.
In 2021, she advocated for the expansion of CASA services into Raleigh County, where she worked as a forensic psychologist.
Through her experiences in conducting psychological evaluations and serving as an expert witness in parental fitness cases, Dr. Dumas recognized the pressing need for a dedicated adult advocate to represent children in court and ensure their safety, permanency, and opportunities to thrive.
