Explanation
Title
In recognition of CASA of Franklin County and to proclaim October 5, 2006 as "Speak Up for Children Day".
Body
WHEREAS, each year 3,500 children in Franklin County are placed in the juvenile court system as a result of being victims of abuse, neglect, or dependency, and
WHEREAS, each of these children needs a guardian ad litem (GAL) to legally represent them in court, and each child deserves an advocate who truly knows the child and the child's circumstances in order to speak up for the child's best interest,
WHEREAS, preliminary findings show that children who are assigned a Court Appointed Special Advocate, or CASA, volunteer tend to spend less time in the court system and less time in the foster care system and also have better chances of finding permanent homes than non-CASA children,
WHEREAS, CASA of Franklin County has been training adult volunteers for this important work since 1992 and last year had 200 volunteers advocate for 600 children and their goal is to provide a CASA/GAL advocate for as many children as possible, and
WHEREAS, CASA of Franklin County trains men & women from all walks of life, with a variety of professional, educational, and ethnic backgrounds to speak for the best interests of abused and/or neglected children; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
In recognition of CASA of Franklin County's vital work on behalf of abused and neglected children the City Council of the City of Columbus, Ohio, hereby proclaims October 5, 2006, as "Speak Up For Children Day", in Columbus and encourages all citizens to educate themselves about CASA of Franklin County in order to increase community participation in the lives of children.