In 2009, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) was awarded a $32,350 grant to develop and rollout web-based, online training for volunteers. Because the program allows volunteers to complete training on their own schedule, more people are able to participate. This means more advocates for abused and neglected children. The success of the program led CASA to market it to other CASA organizations statewide.
Today, The Women’s Fund grant continues to impact our community, as well as nine other CASA programs around the state. The web-based training has eliminated one barrier to becoming an advocate for abused and neglected children. Executive Director Patty Garner said, “I can’t even imagine how we recruited volunteers under the ‘old way’ of training. The grant makes training more convenient for volunteers, saves time and money, and helps generate income from the other nine CASAs who are now using the program.” Since implementing the online training component, CASA has seen a 39 percent increase in its number of volunteers.