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The Rotary Club of Breckenridge received a special visit from Rebecca Navarro, CASA Program Director of North Star CASA, and the new Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator, Stephanie Fade of Virginia’s/Dr. Goodall’s House.
North Star CASA, Virginia’s and Dr. Goodall’s House strives to help children and their families who suffer from all types of abuse, as well as help children in situations of risk, according to their website.
“CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate,” Rebecca Navarro, CASA Program Director said. “We are appointed by a judge, and anytime a child is removed from a home, a judge appoints us to the case. We are the child’s voice in court, and we are there for the best interest of the child.”
Along with Dr. Goodall’s House, these programs help children in need and attempts to help schoolage kids reduce serious school infractions, such as disciplinary referrals, fighting, suspensions, and dropout rates.
The mentoring program serves four different communities, including Breckenridge, Graham, Newcastle, and Throckmorton. With about 67 students in the mentoring program, the bulk of the students come from the Breckenridge area.
“The CASA program serves Stephens, Throckmorton, and Young County,” Navarro said. “As of now we have 15 CASA volunteers, but 18 children have been removed in Stephens County. We are struggling with Stephens County, and we are only servicing 25 % of the children who are in need as of 2019.”
To be a CASA volunteer, citizens need to be over the age of 21, be able to commit to a case for 12 months, and must be able to pass a background check.
