Community Brings CASA to White and Van Buren Counties

Children involved in abuse and neglect cases in White and Van Buren counties will soon have a dedicated advocate standing beside them in juvenile court after a community fundraising effort successfully brought Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) services to the area.

Organizers announced that the inaugural Denim & Diamonds: Let's Shine for the Kids fundraiser raised $42,032.58, surpassing the financial goal needed to establish CASA services for the two counties.

The milestone marks the beginning of a program local leaders have been working toward for months, creating a resource designed to provide one-on-one advocacy for children navigating the foster care and juvenile court systems.

CASA is a nonprofit program that recruits, trains and supervises community volunteers who are appointed by judges to represent the best interests of children involved in abuse and neglect cases. Unlike attorneys or social workers, CASA volunteers focus solely on the child's well-being, gathering information from teachers, caregivers, medical providers and family members before making recommendations to the court. Their role is to serve as a consistent adult presence for children whose lives are often marked by uncertainty and frequent changes.

The need for the program was first identified by local juvenile court officials, who recognized that children in White and Van Buren counties did not have access to the same advocacy services available in many surrounding communities.

The funds raised during Denim & Diamonds will allow CASA of the Tennessee Valley to begin serving White and Van Buren counties, adding the two communities to its existing service area in the Upper Cumberland. The organization has already established an office in Sparta and will recruit and train local volunteers to serve children referred through juvenile court.

Community support played a major role in making the effort successful.

The event drew support from local businesses, organizations and residents through sponsorships, ticket sales, silent auction participation and donations. Volunteers also donated countless hours to organize the evening.

Organizers thanked Tanner Hillis and Lyla McCoy for providing live entertainment, Templeton's BBQ for serving the meal, 1938 Social and Javier Ortiz for sponsoring the social hour, and River Cliff Venue for hosting the fundraiser. They also recognized the many volunteers whose work behind the scenes helped make the event possible.

"Together, you made history," organizers said in announcing the fundraising total. "Together, you brought CASA to White and Van Buren Counties."

The impact of the program extends beyond the courtroom. Research has shown that children with CASA volunteers often experience greater stability while in foster care and are more likely to receive needed educational, medical and mental health services because someone is consistently monitoring their case and advocating for their needs. CASA volunteers remain involved until a child is placed in a safe, permanent home or the court closes the case.

With the fundraising goal now achieved, the next steps include recruiting and training volunteers before children begin receiving CASA advocacy through the local program.

With the fundraising goal met, the focus now shifts from raising money to serving children. CASA volunteers will soon begin providing advocacy for children involved in abuse and neglect cases in White and Van Buren counties, giving judges another source of information when making decisions that affect a child's future.