ABOUT US
OUR MISSION.
The Harrison County CASA Program supports family stability and provides best-interest advocacy so every child who has experienced abuse or neglect can have a permanent home and an opportunity to thrive.
OUR VISION.
To create and strengthen our community where every child in need is supported and given the opportunity to thrive
OUR VALUES.
-
Children should feel safe and protected wherever they live
-
Children deserve to be treated with respect and dignity
-
Children deserve to have their voices heard
-
Children in our communities are everyone's responsibility
-
Our society has developed and implements systems to remove children who are victims of abuse or neglect from their parents to ensure their safety and well-being. Therefore, as a society we must be responsible. As a society, we must not only expect the system to care for these children, but rather we must hold each other responsible, making sure that these same children’s safety, welfare, and dignity are upheld in the process.
HISTORY.
The Harrison County CASA Program, Inc. began in 1995 as a program of the Harrison County Child Abuse Task Force. In 2002, the program was established as a private, non-profit organization that is governed by a board of directors. The soul focus of the CASA program was to provide volunteer-based advocacy to child victims of abuse and neglect that are named in child abuse and neglect proceedings in Harrison County, WV.
In 2019, through the generous support of Antero, Harrison County CASA created our Comfort & Care closet, which continues to grow, meeting the basic needs of over 300 children annually.
In 2021, Sacred Heart Children's Center provided the necessary funding to add a family visitation center. The first visitation took place in 2022 and we have served over 250 children each year since.
In 2023 and 2024, the GFWC Bridgeport Junior Women's Club chose CASA to be their beneficiary of the proceeds of their incredible event, the Be the Change Ball. Over $220,000 was provided to CASA to expand our services and meet the needs of more children in our community. This support enabled us to purchase a building that is now the CASA Family Center, allowing us to triple the number of children served annually.
OUR WORK.
CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to advocate for the best interests of children named in child abuse and neglect proceedings in Harrison County, WV. They are trained adult volunteers who are appointed by the court and are committed to ensuring each individual child's needs remain a priority in an overburdened child welfare system.
They stay with each case until it is closed, and the child is in a safe, permanent home. We serve children from birth through 18, unless the youth chooses to stay involved through the age of 21.
Volunteers work with legal and child welfare professionals, educators and service providers to ensure that judges have all the information they need to make the most well-informed decisions for each child.
Our best-interest advocacy is driven by the guiding principle that children grow and develop best with their family of origin, if that can be safely achieved. Most of the children we work with are in foster care, but some are with their family of origin.
REQUIREMENTS
-
Must be 21 years of age or older
-
Must pass a serious of background screenings
-
Complete an application and interview process
-
Complete 30 hours of pre-service training
-
Commit to at least one year of service to ensure consistency for the child
-
Want to make a difference!