It’s official. CASA of Milam County is the 74th program in the state of Texas.
The mission of CASA of Milam County is to work on behalf of at-risk children in Child Protective Services (CPS) custody in Milam County helping to increase public awareness of child abuse and neglect and community support for the prevention of child abuse and neglect; recruit, train and empower members of the community to advocate for abused and neglected children in CPS care; decrease the occurrence of child abuse in the community and advocate for children at-risk of child abuse and neglect.
“It has taken around a year for this to come to fruition,” said CASA of Milam County Executive Director Rachel Owens. “I am so excited to make the announcement that CASA of Milam County is officially the 74th CASA in Texas. I am especially excited for the children in Milam County. They now will have one more person on their side to help their voices to be heard and looking out for their best interests. There are so many people to thank and there is no way one person could have done it alone.”
“I couldn’t be more excited to welcome Milam County to the statewide CASA family,” said Vicki Spriggs, CEO of Texas CASA. “This program will play an essential part in helping more Texas children and families secure safe and positive futures and we’re honored to support them.”
The idea of CASA being brought to Milam County started with one man, Mike Wilson. “I have been asked numerous times why I wanted to bring CASA to Milam County. Such a straightforward question, yet the answer is more complex than one might think. It’s easy to get so wrapped up in our own lives and not pay attention to things that are going on around us. I’ve been guilty of this very thing myself. It wasn’t until one day I received a call that a very special person, whom I love, needed me. It wasn’t until I was asked to foster a special needs child that I finally understood the whole context. Knowing this child was being subjected to live in a home where her needs weren’t being met but I couldn’t appear in court and demand change for her was a crippling feeling. I was asked to care for this child, yet I wasn’t able to tell the judge everything I’ve witnessed. I wasn’t able to tell her story for her because the system doesn’t work that way. I couldn’t be the voice she so desperately needed. I was silenced.
“Expressing this frustration to someone, I was asked if she had a CASA. Navigating the foster parent role for the first time, I didn’t know much besides the fact that I wanted to fight for this child, I wanted to challenge the system and shake down barriers that have been standing for far too long. So, I did some research and instantly knew that was the answer to not just my then foster child’s situation, but to hundreds of children within this county, was to bring CASA to others’ attention.
“So for me, CASA is the never ending fight to help advocate for kids here at home. Kids that live in my own town, community, even county. CASA represents hope for the children in placement, hope for an end to abuse and neglect, hope that they see someone cares, hope that someone will speak when so many keep quiet. CASA of Milam County started because a special little girl I loved needed me in a way I wasn’t able to be for her. I am grateful for folks that see a need and fill it.”
CASA is currently looking for more board member as well as volunteers who will work directly with the children. “We do the handson work of recruiting, training and supervising volunteers to advocate for the best interests of children in CPS care and the foster system. CASA volunteers are ordinary people just like you. They come from all walks of life, just like the children in foster care they help. A CASA volunteer gathers information from everyone involved in a child’s daily life, including members of the child’s family, foster parents, lawyers, social workers and other relevant persons. Then they report to a judge to advocate for the child’s best interests,” Owens said.
If you have the desire to help children and families, email rachel.owens@casaofmilamcounty. org, or call (512) 429-1336 and you will be sent an application. You will need to pass a DFPS background check, criminal background check, as well as submitting fingerprints.
You can donate to CASA of Milam County online at https://www.paypal.com/ donate/?hosted_button_ id=8PXTDBD2A6DHL&fbclid= IwAR3Lq2mnpsu-2VTGzLjngAQfQ42Cp1EWR- Me-qkNEVvX8KhgMSvI8DJKg9Wc.
You may also mail donations to CASA of Milam County at P.O. Box 445, Rockdale, TX 76567.
Want to visit with them in person? See them at the Rockdale Fair, Oct. 19-21.
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