The recipient entity's physical address:
           2051 Silverside Dr., Suite 240
Baton Rouge, LA 70808-9005

The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           2051 Silverside Dr., Suite 240
Baton Rouge, LA 70808-9005

Type of Entity (for instance, a nonprofit corporation):  Non-Profit Corporation

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          Patricia Green
Debbie Bowes
Elizabeth Betz

The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  5057

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $137,000

What type of request is this?  General Appropriation

Is this entity in good standing with the Secretary of State?  Yes

Provide the name of each member of the recipient entity's governing board and officers:
           Benjamin Huxen, President of the Board of Directors,12033 Oakshire Ave. BR, LA 70810

Professor Jacqueline Nash-Grant, Vice-President of the Board of Directors, 2 Roosevelt Steptoe Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70813

Teresa Lawrence; Secretary of the Board of Directors, 2709 L& A Road, Metairie, LA 70001

Gloria Nye, Treasurer of the Board of Directors, 2508 Bocage Lake Dr.

Baton Rouge, LA 70809

Larry Attenhofer, 107 Berkshire Lane,Lafayette, LA 70508

Herman Brister, 6200 Rougon Road, Port Allen, LA 70767

Judge Angela Claxton, 100 North Cedar Street, Tallulah, LA 71282

Lynn Farris, 13509 Hico Drive Baker, LA 70711

Sherry Guarisco, 266 Seyburn Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Captain Darwin Jones, 1077 West Pointe Loop, Shreveport, LA 71106

Karen Levo Lucas, 204 Vermillion Place Bossier City, LA 71112

Professor Lucy McGough, GH 11-12, 333 Lee Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Deron Patin, 6950 Lagoon Court, Greenwell Springs,LA 70739

Anselmo Rodriguez, 37173 Whitestone Drive, Geismar, LA 70734

Cinnamon Salvador, 5725 Spruce, Lake Charles, LA 70609

Leteya Scott, 624 Percy Brown Road Apt. 924, Thibodaux, LA 70301

Michelle Shelton, 17093 Swamp Road West, Prairieville, LA 70769

Anita Tennant-Mack, ) 603 Hodge Watson Rd., Calhoun, LA 71225

Renita Williams Thomas, 17408 Old Scenic Hwy., Zachary, LA 70791-8503

Kathleen Stewart Richey, Executive Director, 1659 S. Tamarix St. Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Provide a summary of the project or program:
           The purpose of this proposed project is to develop and implement a statewide, multimedia volunteer recruitment campaign to rebuild the capacity of local CASA programs, which lost volunteers during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021. The local programs do not have the funding necessary to implement a comprehensive recruitment campaign. Given that the jurisdictions of local programs cross media markets, it is more efficient and cost-effective for the state association to conduct a statewide campaign.

The Louisiana CASA network is focused on recovering, growing, and diversifying the network of eligible volunteers to pre-pandemic levels and beyond. We propose strategies, activities, and measures to attract more male volunteers and volunteers of color to form a pool of eligible volunteers that more fully reflect the sex and racial/ethnic diversity of Louisiana’s children served in foster care.

Louisiana CASA should prepare for growth in areas of the state where the child population is expected to grow, where child advocacy rates are low and waitlists are longer, and where there is no local CASA program.

There remain areas of Louisiana that are unserved by a local CASA program. Louisiana CASA is focused on crafting a solution to expand coverage to the three remaining unserved parishes, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, and West Baton Rouge, those parishes comprising the 18th JDC.

Twelve of the seventeen local CASA programs in Louisiana will require growth to reach 80% advocacy rates; 4 of 17 local CASA programs have advocacy rates lower than 50% (CASA New Orleans, CASA of South Louisiana, CASA of Terrebonne, and Family & Youth Counseling Agency). Our qualitative research suggests that most local CASA programs have additional staff capacity to supervise the additional volunteers needed. Local CASA programs struggle primarily with volunteer recruitment and retention. Current capacity to recruit and retain volunteers limits child advocacy, and local CASA programs have requested that the state provide additional support for ongoing and targeted mass media campaigns for volunteer recruitment, referrals, and retention.

Louisiana CASA is seeking funding to conduct a six-week recruitment campaign with broadcast media, print and social media, and out of home advertising. Although the Legislature provides funding for the general operations of the seventeen local CASA funding, there is insufficient funding for a separate, comprehensive recruitment campaign for each of the programs. A statewide campaign is more cost-effective and will benefit all of the local CASA programs.

What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $6,825
          Professional Services. . . $0
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $0
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $0
          Operating Services. . . . $5,175
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $125,000

Does your organization have any outstanding audit issues or findings?  No

If 'Yes' is your organization working with the appropriate governmental agencies to resolve those issues or findings?
          Not Applicable

What is the entity's public purpose, sought to be achieved through the use of state monies?
          The vision of the Louisiana CASA Association focuses on community supported solutions that build hope and promise for Louisiana’s children. Our goal is that every child in Louisiana has the opportunity to thrive, and our belief is the best way to achieve that goal is through community programs and the involvement of individual citizens. As the state association of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) our mission is to build, support, and advocate for a statewide network of court-appointed volunteers to speak for abused and neglected children. We actively engage in projects designed to improve advocacy for abused and neglected children in Louisiana, as well as projects to increase the volunteer pool so that there is a CASA volunteer available for every child in court due to abuse or neglect.

According to DCFS data, 1 in 7 Louisiana children experienced abuse or neglect in the federal fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, with over 47,000 reports of child abuse or neglect in 2021. On any given day, there are almost 5,000 children in foster care due to abuse or neglect. Children removed from their home because of abuse or neglect face a frightening, profound unknown. CASA volunteers help these child victims heal and thrive through a dedicated, one-on-one relationship focused on the best interest of the child.

Currently there are only approximately 1,600 CASA volunteers available to serve these children. Our goal is to increase the number of volunteers to serve more children. Research shows that children in court due to abuse or neglect have better outcomes, receive more services, perform better in school and have a reduced chance of re-entry into foster care. Providing more CASA volunteers will improve the lives of Louisiana’s most vulnerable children, a

What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          Goal 1: Recruit and retain well-trained volunteers, increasing the level of volunteer advocates assigned or eligible to be assigned to a level of 2,000 annually by designing and implementing a statewide volunteer recruitment media campaign.



Objective 1: Partner with the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters to leverage airtime for public service announcements on television.

Objective 2: Arrange Out-Of-Home advertising with statewide placement, and south Louisiana concentration

Objective 3: Coordinate a statewide radio advertising campaign

Objective 4: Arrange print and social media advertising for recruitment with an emphasis in the 4 areas of the state serving less than 50% of eligible children.



Goal 2: Increase the number of available volunteer advocates who are male and people of color to reflect the demographics of the children served, as well as enhance inclusion to create more equitable outcomes.



Objective 1: Conduct best practices research in the recruitment and retention of male volunteer advocates as well as advocates of color.

Objective 2: Partner with Volunteer Louisiana, 100 Black Men, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana, and other identified groups to inform targeted outreach.

Objective 3: Design and implement targeted recruitment to increase the number of men and people of color as volunteers.

What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           It is expected that this project will last for one year.

If any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official is an officer, director, trustee, or employee of the recipient entity who receives compensation or holds any ownership interest therein:
     (a) If an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of the official and the office held by such person:
                 Judge Angela Claxton, 6th Judicial District Court, 100 North Cedar Street, Tallulah, LA  71282. member of the Louisiana CASA Board of Directors.
    
     (b) If an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of such person; the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related; and the nature of the relationship:
                 Captain Darwin Jones, 1077 West Pointe Loop, Shreveport, LA 71106 is a member of the Louisiana CASA Board of Directors. Captain Jones is married to Judge Ree Casey-Jones, Caddo Parish Juvenile Court, 1835 Spring Street Shreveport, LA 71101

     (c) The percentage of the official's or immediate family member's ownership interest in the recipient entity, if any:
                 0

     (d) The position, if any, held by the official or immediate family member in the recipient entity:
                  Member of the Louisiana CASA Board of Directors

If the recipient entity has a contract with any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official or with the state or any political subdivision of the state:
(a) If the contract is with an elected or appointed state official, provide the name and address of the official and the office held by such person: 
               Not Applicable

(b) If the contract is with an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official:
          Provide the name and address of such person:
               Not Applicable

          Provide the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related:
                Not Applicable

          What is the nature of the relationship?  Not Applicable

(c) If the contract is with the state or a political subdivision of the state, provide the name and address of the state entity or political subdivision of the state:
                 Louisiana CASA has a contract with the Louisiana Child Welfare Training Academy,310 W Dakota St, Hammond, LA 70401 [Southeastern Louisiana University]

(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               Louisiana CASA provides training support and hosts various training events sponsored by the Louisiana Child
Welfare Training Academy and DCFS. For each training session, where applicable, the Contractor shall provide and ensure the following, but not limited to:
¿ Obtain a signature log of participants;
¿ Provide water, coffee, and snacks for all requested training groups;
¿ Provide lunch as requested to meet the needs to facilitate a working lunch;
¿ Provide name tags for all attendees;
¿ Provide each participant with a white, three-ring binder with clear cover;
¿ Print approximately 30 pages of training/resource material per training event provided to the Contractor by LCWTA/DCFS; to be placed into the individual participant binders.
¿ Set up training room(s) as requested by DCFS/ LCWTA liaison or designee;
¿ Ensure that the training room is returned to the original condition;
¿ Provide certificate and certificate holder for participants completing the Supervisor Certification Training or other identified professional development training.


Contact Information
name:  Kathleen Richey 
                                       address:  2051 Silverside Drive
Suite 240
Baton Rouge, LA 70808-9005
                                       phone:  2259300305
                                       fax:  2259300306
                                       e-mail:  krichey@louisianacasa.org
                                       relationship to entity:  Executive Director