Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Southwest Missouri has been selected to receive the Skaggs Foundation’s $250,000 Community Impact Award.
This investment will support the establishment of a CASA Clubhouse and the addition of a second Taney County Advocate Supervisor, according to a press release from CASA of Southwest Missouri.
This award will expand advocacy for children in foster care in Taney County. CASA aims to provide a more supportive environment for children and families while increasing the professional capacity behind its volunteer advocacy program.
The planned clubhouse will address critical needs facing children and families navigating the foster care system. For children awaiting emergency foster placements, it will also offer a bed, shower, and clean clothes during a transition that is often uncertain and traumatic.
“Establishing a CASA Clubhouse in Taney County is about so much more than a building. It is about creating a safe, trauma-informed space where children can learn new skills, build connections, and heal from the trauma that brought them into foster care in the first place,” CASA of Southwest Missouri Executive Director Laura Farmer said in the press release.
Another way the clubhouse will serve the community is by offering a setting for supervised family visits. The space will be staffed by dedicated child advocates.
“Taney County has the highest rate of children in foster care in the entire state of Missouri,” Skaggs Foundation Chairman of the Board Randy Brashers said in the release. “When I first heard that statistic, I was in disbelief. My wife has worked in the public school system for years, and even we had no idea this was the case.”
The Community Impact Award will also support a second Taney County Advocate Supervisor position.
CASA volunteers advocate for the best interests of children who have experienced abuse or neglect and are involved in the foster care system. Advocate Supervisors provide the professional guidance, training, and ongoing support that enable volunteers to carry out this important work.
Adding a second Advocate Supervisor will strengthen CASA’s capacity to support its volunteers and expand advocacy efforts for children throughout Taney County.
To learn more about Skaggs Foundation, visit skaggsfoundation.org.
More information about CASA of Southwest Missouri can be found at casaswmo.org.
