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CASA asks county to fund state-matched increase as child-welfare caseloads rise
Summary
Sarah Rice of CASA told the council a surge in adjudicated children since 2023 increased state-eligible funding but requires a county match; she said a $93,000 county increase would allow serving about 200 more children and reduce reliance on paid guardians ad litem.
Sarah Rice, executive director of CASA for the county, told the council the program has seen a substantial rise in children involved in the juvenile court system since 2023 and that state statute ties county appropriations to eligibility for a one-for-one state match. “We are now the second largest program in the state…we have over a thousand children that are currently involved in cases for active abuse and neglect,” Rice said, and added that when a CASA advocate is appointed children exit foster care on average eight months earlier than those without advocates.
Rice asked the council to appropriate funds that will unlock state matching dollars; she said the $93,000 increase in the county request would allow CASA to serve roughly 200 additional children. Council members discussed funding sources and whether other local partners (EVSC and others) could contribute; Rice said CASA receives no direct EVSC funding but works closely with the schools.
Councilors expressed urgency and suggested the county consider reassigning existing funds or the old perpetuation fund to help meet the match. No formal appropriation was made at the hearing; councilors asked staff to identify possible funding pockets and confirm the statutory requirement that the county fiscal body appropriate funds to trigger the state match.
