Northeast Texas CASA Inc., a local nonprofit organization dedicated to the healing of child abuse victims, recently announced that it will transfer its Family Matters child visitation and exchange center to a new local nonprofit with a similar mission.
"It was a relationship that grew organically," said Brandy Eldridge, CASA for Children executive director. "We are helping the same children and families and it will be a great partnership."
For the Sake of One, which seeks to advocate for foster children and orphans, will own the center by Jan. 1, 2018. The transfer began Oct. 1.
"We have a formal transition plan in place to help ensure their success with the program and the continued care of the visiting children," Eldridge said. "This change will allow our programs to focus their efforts in the fight against child abuse with our child advocate volunteer program and children's advocacy center."
CASA for Children will continue training volunteer advocates to fight for the best interests of about 350 foster children annually and continue to provide advocacy and healing services to an additional 650 child victims at Texarkana Children's Advocacy Center each year.
For the Sake of One and CASA missions are closely aligned. The new organization's goals are to adopt case workers to help decrease the burnout rate, provide mentorship for biological parents, recruit and support foster families and maintain a resource room, which CASA and Children's Advocacy Center children will be able to use.
For more information on becoming a CASA volunteer, contact CASA for Children at casatexarkana.org or 903-792-1030. To become involved with For the Sake of One, contact Angela Coston at 903-329-0566 or [email protected].