Page 178 - South Mississippi Living - December, 2024

FINAL SAY
FRANCES L.
ALLSUP
Executive Director,
CASA of Southeast Mississippi, Inc.
Judge Emily Baker’s vision first brought the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program to Jackson County in 1985. I have been a witness to most of this history since I initially joined CASA in 1996. I have seen firsthand the tremendous difference this program and the dedicated volunteers have been able to make in the lives of countless abused and neglected children who have found themselves involved in the juvenile court system.
In 2022, the program was expanded into George and Greene Counties, and the program’s name was officially changed to CASA of Southeast Mississippi. The three youth court judges
in the counties we serve have been extremely supportive and welcoming during the expansion process, and new volunteers are being continually trained to serve the children in these areas. A satellite office in Lucedale is now fully staffed and operational to recruit and train volunteers. The entire CASA staff has
also worked hard to develop and maintain strong working relationships with CPS personnel in each of the service areas.
CASA continues to be the true heart of the program. Our trained volunteers spend countless hours to provide a consistent source of hope and support for the ever-growing number of children who find themselves journeying through the youth court process. The trauma that these young people have experienced often makes the job of being an advocate especially challenging. But seeing a family reunited or a long-awaited adoption taking place makes all the difference.
I am daily humbled by the generous outpouring of community support. Countless individuals and groups ensure that we are indeed able to make a difference in the lives of the children we serve. I am thankful for our dedicated Board of Directors who work within the guidelines and requirement of National CASA to direct the program and support its mission. We are also proud to call United Way of Jackson, George, and Greene Counties a partner who has been with us each step of the way since 1999.
As a non-profit agency, CASA of Southeast Mississippi faces significant challenges to provide the quality of service the children, the families, and the courts have come to expect. As
the number of children and families in need of our services and resources continues to grow, securing adequate funding becomes a bigger challenge. During the upcoming holiday season marked by the spirit of giving, I ask that you please consider CASA as your charity of choice.
2025 will mark a significant milestone for CASA of Southeast Mississippi – 40 years of continuous service. On April 5, 2025, we will host a gathering to celebrate our ruby anniversary and take a look back at some of those individuals who have been instrumental in the program’s success.
I remain committed to the program’s vision of a community where all children will be able to thrive in a safe, nurturing, permanent home, and I believe that by working together, we will make a difference and change a child’s story.
178 | December 2024
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