CASA of West Texas is expanding their service area from seven counties to 10 counties. CASA of West Texas will now serve Pecos County, Reeves County and Brewster County.
Frontier CASA used to be the ones to serve Pecos, Reeves and Brewster Counties. However, since Frontier is dissolving, CASA of West Texas was asked to add these three to their service area so that all the children in those counties don't lose CASA advocacy services.
“Well, our goal is to start serving kids with quality advocacy kind of as soon as possible. So, we're already starting to recruit volunteers now to hopefully start, but we want to do this the right way, correct, right. So, we don't want to just rush into anything, and you know, be more of a hindrance than a help,” said Ariel Sanchez, volunteer recruiter and marketing specialist for CASA of West Texas.
Sanchez said they wouldn’t have agreed to take in these new counties if they didn’t have the resources to serve them.
“So, nothing is going to change in terms of quality advocacy. The children that we serve in our seven-county service area now and in the three new counties that we are taking on, nothing will change in terms of quality advocacy," Sanchez said. "The standard that we have set for ourselves and for our volunteers will still stay the same.”
According to Sanchez, they’ll even be able to use the office that Frontier CASA used to occupy.
They’re just glad that they’ll be able to help even more kids.
“I think it feels good that we as an organization are able to provide that," Sanchez said. "And so, to really be able to put that into action in other counties is a really good feeling.”
In total, CASA of West Texas will serve Midland, Howard, Dawson, Gaines, Andrews, Martin, Glasscock, Pecos, Reeves and Brewster Counties.
Below is the organization's mission:
"CASA or Court Appointed Special Advocate’s mission is to provide volunteers who provide quality advocacy for children experiencing the foster care system. Volunteer Recruiter, Ariel Sanchez, stated: 'No child should have to walk alone through a confusing child welfare system. These children have so many people coming in and out of their lives. They deserve someone who will show up for them again and again. That is why I am excited we are expanding our service area. I am happy that the children of the Trans-Pecos Area will have volunteers they can count on to lift their voices.'"
For more information about CASA of West Texas, contact Ariel Sanchez at at 432-266-1750 or 432-683-1114 or visit www.casawtx.org.