Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Contra Costa
Advocating on behalf of abused or neglected children, and staying with them until they find a safe and permanent home, is why this humanitarian organization has earned our readers’ votes. Ann Wrixon, Executive Director of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) For Children, is appreciative of the recognition. “Our organization relies on both community volunteers and donors,” she said. “We are truly grateful that we have such a generous community supporting us.” Less than 50 percent of foster youth overall graduate from high school or earn a GED, yet 100 percent of the CASA youth in Contra Costa County have done just that; and 67 percent of CASA youth went on to college or post-secondary education, compared to the 10 percent average for foster youth. In 2018, CASA began a reproductive health education program for foster youth, and this year they hope to find ways of providing more mental health resources for these underprivileged kids. What CASA needs most—is volunteers. “In particular, we need male and African-American volunteers, as 50 percent of our children in foster care are boys, and 50 percent are African-American,” she explained. “Currently we serve about 200 children, but there are 1,200 children in foster care in Contra Costa County.”
Sign up to volunteer at www.cccocasa.org/volunteer, or call Alvaughn Rodgers at (925) 256-7284 ext. 7.
2151 Salvio St, #295, Concord, CA, 94520
(925) 256-7284 ext. 4
https://www.cccocasa.org/
