May 29, 2007

For Immediate Release

CASA of Missoula

Missoula CASA Receives National Grant to Benefit More Children

Missoula, MT -- The Missoula Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) organization has just been awarded a $30,000.00 grant from the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association. The funding will be used to expand advocacy for abused and neglected children in the Missoula area.

CASA of Missoula is a non-profit which trains and supervises volunteers who represent abused and neglected children in Missoula County. CASA presently oversees 31 volunteers who serve nearly 100 children. It operates with funds from Missoula County United Way among others, and recently received a $7500 grant from the Gallagher Foundation to recruit and train additional volunteers.

"CASA of Missoula has an aggressive plan to grow the number of volunteers in Missoula to meet an increasing need on behalf of abused and neglected kids in our Courts, so these funds will really help us recruit and train more CASA Volunteers," said CASA Executive Director Dave McAlpin. "With these resources we can get more kids in safe and secure homes."

CASA of Missoula is one of over 900 CASA and guardian ad litem offices across the country. The Missoula CASA organization received one of only 25 grants awarded nationwide in its category from a $6.1 million allocation from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), U.S. Department of Justice, as authorized under the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990.

“Each year, we face the nearly impossible task of choosing programs, among many highly qualified applicants, that we can recognize with a National CASA grant,” says Michael Piraino, CEO of the National CASA Association. “We are especially proud of our 2007 grant recipients, for their exceptional excellence and dedication to helping abused children with their communities.”

To apply to become a CASA, phone 542-1208 or email casamissoula@gmail.com for more information.