A special advocacy group serving the Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren counties recently announced that it was awarded more than $10,000 in funding through its ongoing partnership with community organizations.
Tracy Heisler, the executive editor of the Court Appointed Special Advocates of Somerset, Hunterton and Warren counties (CASA SHaW), said the influx of funding stemmed from the organization’s collaborative efforts that go back many years, in some cases.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have many amazing community partnerships,” Heisler said. “[These donations] ensure that we are continuing to advance our mission to serve as many foster children as possible.”
In the July 5 announcement, CASA SHaW revealed that the group was awarded $5,000 for their Traveling Tutor Program for foster children, with assistance from the The Children’s Hope Initiative.
According to CASA, the Traveling Tutor Program has served more than 40 children throughout the region. Each student in the program has been promoted to the next grade level without anyone being held back.
CASA officials said the program’s tutors have not only assisted the children with their academics but have also been a source of support for parents, who sometimes struggle with academic issues as well.
With this newly acquired funding, the organization stated that it hopes to train more tutors for the 2018-19 school year to help serve more children.
In addition to the support from The Children’s Hope Initiative, CASA also announced a $5,121 donation from the The Hackettstown Medical Center Foundation.
Officials said the donation will help pay for staff to attend Trauma Informed Care certification training in August, which will allow CASA members to be trauma certified.
To that end, the organization has teamed up with Resilient Youth Somerset to share information about the impacts of trauma on a child’s brain development. Without proper care, officials said, foster children could be more susceptible to harmful long-term consequences, including serious impairments in mental and physical health, when not met with understanding and trauma-appropriate responses from adults.
“We are proud of our community partnerships and excited that other organizations see the value in helping our most needy children in the community,” Heisler said.
CASA of Somerset, Hunterdon, and Warren counties is part of a statewide network of community-based, non-profit programs that recruit, screen, train and supervise volunteers to “Speak Up for a Child” removed from home due to abuse or neglect. To find a local CASA program in your county, visit www.casaofnj.org.