A recent decision by the U.S. Department of Justice to terminate three federal grants to the National CASA/GAL Association has caused concern across the country, but local leaders say CASA of Ohio Valley remains unaffected — at least for now.
Alondra Johnson, executive director of CASA of the Ohio Valley, said the organization does not currently receive funding from National CASA and is not directly impacted by the suspension of services announced by the national office. However, she acknowledged that any federal-level shifts in funding could eventually influence state programs and the children they serve.
“We are a big recipient of Kentucky CASA funds and VOCA funds — the Victims of Crime Act,” Johnson said. “That is where we receive our major funding source from, along with community organizations and individuals who donate to our program and our mission.”
On April 22, the DOJ issued over 360 termination notices for federal grant awards, including three to National CASA/GAL, according to a release from the organization.
“The DOJ stated the grants ‘no longer effectuate the program goals or agency priorities,’ despite National CASA’s work to protect children — which has been the core of its mission for more than 30 years,” the release said.
In response, National CASA announced it would suspend all services and support funded by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), including subawards to local and state CASA programs. The organization is appealing the decision.
Locally, CASA of Ohio Valley is taking a proactive approach to ensure long-term sustainability, Johnson said.
“We met this morning and had a conversation to reassure our staff and our volunteers that right now, this does not affect us locally,” she said. “But we still want to be proactive and make sure we have diverse sources of funding. We don’t want to depend heavily on grants that could be changed.”
Johnson said community support is more important than ever.
“It’s important for the community to be aware of it, especially when they bring it to our state level,” she said. “We want to make sure that the funds Kentucky CASA is receiving don’t start to dwindle because of what’s happening federally.”
CASA of Ohio Valley, founded in 1996, is a nonprofit that advocates for children involved in the family court system due to abuse, neglect, or dependency. The organization relies on trained volunteers who gather information from teachers, social workers, attorneys, and others to create reports for judges to help guide decisions that affect a child’s well-being.
“They’re that third individual that’s not associated with the court system or DCBS,” Johnson said. “They get to present that unbiased observation to the court and make sure the child doesn’t fall through the cracks.”
While much of the courtroom conversation can focus on parents, she said CASA volunteers work to keep the child’s needs at the forefront.
“We want to make sure the child is also on the forefront of everybody’s mind when discussing their well-being,” Johnson said.
More information about CASA of the Ohio Valley is available at casaov.org.
