The National Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Association announced earlier this month that Stephanie Cash, Executive Director of Hill Country CASA based in Kerrville, has been appointed as a member of its Rural Leadership Council.
The Rural Leadership Council is one of four local CASA program advisory councils (Urban, Suburban, Rural, and Tribal) convened by National CASA to identify issues common to programs operating in similar community environments and to recommend best practices to improve outcomes for children and families. Appointments to the councils are for two years.
“I’m honored to be chosen to represent the CASA programs, volunteers and foster children and youth of rural Texas through service on the National CASA Rural Leadership Council,” Cash said.
Hill Country CASA, serving Kerr, Kendall, Bandera and Gillespie Counties, was established in 1989 with just 15 volunteers serving 24 children. Since then the program has achieved many milestones, including growing to serve 100 percent of the children in care in their service area with volunteers in 2017, and playing an integral role in Texas CASA’s initiative to better serve children in long-term foster care. Today, Hill Country CASA is 90+ volunteers strong, speaking up for about 300 children per year.
As a member of the Rural Leadership Council, Cash will be sharing her expertise alongside 11 other CASA directors from across the country.
“We are very appreciative and excited to have this level of talent serving on the Rural Leadership Council working together to look at the unique needs of abused and neglected children in rural communities,” said Tara Perry, Chief Executive Officer of National CASA. “Through strong partnerships and collaborative strategies, together we will strengthen the foundation of the CASA/GAL member network, create pathways for sustainable organizational growth, and generate better outcomes for the abused and neglected children in the communities we serve.”