California CASA CEO, Vince Hall’s Statement on California’s $20M General Fund Appropriation for CASA
CA Assemblymember Mia Bonta, CA CASA Board Chair Marie Kennedy
“The California Legislature has passed the state budget with a $20 million General Fund appropriation to restore funding for Court Appointed Special Advocates. This victory will transform the lives of thousands of foster youth who desperately need independent advocates in the system.
Today, California serves only about 15 percent of eligible foster youth — far behind states like Texas, which reaches 75 to 80 percent. This funding moves us toward closing that gap.
We are grateful to our network's 44 local CASA programs, our volunteers, and the legislators who stood with us. Now we look to Governor Newsom, who has long championed foster youth, to ensure the full $20 million for CASA is preserved in the final budget so that more children in the state's care have a voice and an advocate.”
-Vince Hall, CEO, California CASA Association