County staff updated commissioners Sept. 15 on the county’s long-standing child-advocate program contract with the state and asked the board to place the agreement on the regular-meeting agenda for approval.

“We have about 25 case-carrying volunteers right now,” Kimberly Burns, support services manager, told the board. Staff also said they are tracking about 64 children; those totals change as new petitions are filed and volunteers cycle in and out.

Staff explained the county’s program is a partnership supported by a state allocation; the local allocation has not increased and currently funds about half of a full-time staff position. “So it usually funds about half of a position,” a juvenile-services staff member said of the state allocation, noting the program depends on county support and other funding to operate. The staff presenter said volunteer recruitment is constrained by limited recruitment budgets and that volunteers often cycle out after emotional or court-related stress.

The board directed staff to put the child-advocate (CASA) agreement on the regular meeting agenda so the commissioners can consider the contract formally. No vote took place at the work session.

Next steps: staff will place the contract on the Sept. 16 regular meeting agenda and continue outreach for volunteer recruitment.