CASA of Southeast Missouri, Inc. Receives National Certification Recognizing the Quality of Its Work for Abused and Neglected Children

CASA of Southeast Missouri, Inc. has just been awarded certification by the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association. This certification recognizes that CASA of Southeast Missouri, Inc. is in compliance with National CASA's high standards for quality child advocacy.

According to Michael Piraino, CEO of the National CASA Association, "The National CASA quality assurance process is very rigorous, and reflects our commitment to ensure every child we serve has the most powerful volunteer advocate working on their behalf. This certification says that CASA of Southeast Missouri, inc. has demonstrated to us a strong capacity to provide excellent services to the abused and neglected children within their community."

CASA of Southeast Missouri, Inc. program was started in 1991 and serves over 90 children annually in Cape Girardeau, Bollinger, and Perry Counties. Volunteers are needed to serve as advocates, board members, and other volunteer roles. For more information, contact the CASA office at 573-335-1726.

About the National CASA Association

In 1976, concerned over making decisions about abused and neglected children's lives without sufficient information, a Seattle judge conceived the idea of using trained community volunteers to speak for the best interests of these children in court, helping to ensure that they will live in a safe and loving environment. So successful was this Seattle program, that soon judges across the country began utilizing citizen advocates. In 1990, the U.S. Congress encouraged the expansion of CASA/GAL with passage of the Victims of Child Abuse Act. Today, there are more than 950 National CASA member programs across the country, with more than 70,000 men and women serving as CASA or Guardian ad Litem volunteers.