HomeMy WebLinkAboutGrant Req - CASA430
Economic Development Fund
Discretionary Grant Program
Organization: Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Central Oregon
Organization Description: This organization provides volunteer advocates who speak
for the best interests of abused and neglected children in court. Oregon law requires all
counties to have a CASA program.
Project Name: Voice of Hope
Project Description: These funds will be used for the recruitment, screening and training
of potential Deschutes County volunteers and for the support and management of
volunteers, which includes 80 current volunteers and 30 newly trained volunteers.
Project Period: March 1, 2012
Amount of Request: $2,500 (Project Budget = $43,361)
Previous Grants:
• FY 2012 (Budgeted): $30,000 Service Partner Grant
• FY 2011: $30,000 Service Partner Grant
• FY 2010: $30,000 Service Partner Grant
• FY 2009: $30,000 Service Partner Grant
(This organization also received grant funding from the Children & Families
Commission)
Deschutes County Board of Commissioners
1300 NW Wall St., Bend, OR 97701-1960
(541) 388-6570 - Fax (541) 385-3202 - www.deschutes.ojg
DESCHUTES COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND
DISCRETIONARY GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATION
Direct Application to:
Commissioner Tammy Baney
Commissioner Anthony DeBone
Date:
Project Name:
Project Beginning Date:
Amount of Request:
Commissioner Alan Unger
All Three Commissioners
Voice a -F No jae
March 00 ID
,Q,5 ao
Applicant/Organization:
Address:
Project End. Date:
Date Funds Needed:
on
ID #.
.1,)a._ City & Zip:
Telephone:
Email:
cA34 o,C
Cen-1-r Care q
113c, 6U U) �G•r-rtr�-fin Shy S4-
Contact Name(s):
[Porn For -free -
Fax: 15(41- 3 g3 , 7J / Alternate Phone:
541-815 -.)Vol
Decen,ioer c O Io -
Fero.
?3- 1o(,.4ka
Bend, q-7 gal
Sof-381-10 gi)
On a separate sheet, please briefly answer the following questions:
1. Describe the applicant organization, including its purpose, leadership structure, and activities.
2. Describe the proposed project or activity.
3. Provide a timeline for completing the proposed project or activity.
4. Explain how the proposed project or activity will impact the community's economic health.
5. Identify the specific communities or groups that will benefit.
6. Itemize anticipated expenditures*. Describe how grant funds will be used and include the
source and amounts of matching funds or in-kind contributions, if any. If the grant will
support an ongoing activity, explain how it will be funded in the future.
Attach:
Proof of the applicant organization's non-profit status.
* Applicant may be contacted during the review process and asked to provide a complete line item budget.
Tammy Baney: Amount: Signature:
Anthony DeBone: Amount: Signature:
Alan Unger: Amount: Signature:
oree.
arj
CASA of Central Oregon
DISCRETIONARY GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATION
Describe the applicant organization, including its purpose, leadership structure and
activities. A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is a volunteer member of our
community that has been highly trained to advocate for the basic needs of abused and
neglected children in foster care and under the protection of the juvenile justice system through
no fault of their own. Our mission — A Voice of Hope for Abused and Neglected Children in
Central Oregon — is based on the belief that every child deserves a safe and permanent home.
CASA of Central Oregon serves children in Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson Counties
(approximately 9,000 square miles). CASA is the only program in Central Oregon advocating for
the basic needs and best interests of our most vulnerable citizens. In 2010, there were 2,336
reports of child abuse and neglect in the tri -county area.
The primary goal of CASA is to make sure every child assigned to our program has a CASA
volunteer to advocate for their best interests and basic rights within the juvenile justice system.
In an overburdened system, the children we serve risk slipping through the cracks and suffering
further abuse. CASA volunteers have the power to prevent this tragic reality. A major factor in
avoiding negative outcomes for an abused child is the presence of a concerned adult. CASA
volunteers are highly effective in getting their recommendations accepted in court and their
Court Reports lead to a higher number of services being ordered for children and their families.
Low caseload numbers for CASA volunteers aids the court system, bringing about better
decisions for the children. Handling one or two cases at a time provides each case the
sustained, personal attention that every child deserves. Volunteers stay with each case until the
child is placed in a safe, permanent home with hope for a positive future.
Our dedicated, highly trained volunteers serve as a true source of information for the judge by
researching the background of each case. They speak for the child in the courtroom,
representing the child's best interests and continue to act as a watchdog for that child until
placed in a safe and permanent home. In 2010, 114 volunteers advocated for 374 children; 37
new volunteers received 34 hours of complex training to learn best practices in advocating for
CASA children. Last year CASA volunteers contributed over 4,700 hours and drove 36,500
miles to advocate for their CASA children, 76 children achieved permanency upon their case
closure, with 54 children returning to their family, one child was placed with a legal guardian,
and 21 children were adopted. . While we are proud of these accomplishments, over the course
of the past year 103 children were placed on our waiting list for a volunteer advocate due to a
shortage in volunteers.
CASA of Central Oregon is governed by 8 diverse community based Board of Directors. They
bring a well-rounded blend of experience from global education to corporate experience, family
law, public relations, finance, sales and social media expertise.
2. Describe the proposed project or activity.
This project blends into the recently developed and approved three-year strategic plan that
includes a comprehensive marketing program. That plan outlines initiatives in conjunction with
each fiscal year's goals and objectives. The overall goal is to build community awareness in
both the private and public sector allowing CASA to develop both our volunteer and donor base.
This will lead to the fulfillment of our mission of appointing a highly trained volunteer to EVERY
abused and neglected child under the protection of the juvenile justice system in Deschutes
County.
The Voice of Hope project is designed with sustainability in mind. There is an ongoing need for
volunteers to advocate for the basic needs and best interests of abused and neglected children;
therefore, the demand for volunteers will continue as long as the Central Oregon program is in
existence. The goal is to continue to reach out to our community for private donations, county
and state funding and foundation funding to provide the required revenue to provide program
sustainability. As part of the three-year strategic plan, a comprehensive marketing and
fundraising plan reflects a critical goal of increasing and diversifying CASA revenue sources.
This will give CASA the ability to sustain this project in the future.
We are not seeking to grow the existing tri -county program, but rather to maintain program
goals and capacity allowing us to fulfill our mission of providing an advocate for each child.
Funding support will assist us in two critical areas of our program:
1. Recruitment, screening and training of potential Deschutes County volunteers
2. Supporting and managing Deschutes County volunteers, which includes 81
current volunteers and approximately 30 newly trained volunteers in FY 11/12.
3. Provide a timeline for completing the proposed project or activity.
Volunteer Advocate Recruitment, Screening, Training, and Support
The Voice of Hope is an ongoing project whose primary objective is to ensure that each child
assigned to CASA and under the jurisdiction of the juvenile justice system has a volunteer to
advocate for their basic needs and best interests. To accomplish this goal, CASA must increase
awareness of our program through the recruitment phase of this project and then successfully
train a sufficient number of community members to assume the role of a volunteer advocate.
This funding will help support staff time to recruit, screen and train potential new volunteers.
This phase of our program takes place throughout the year. This is an essential step to ensure
the quality and quantity of potential volunteers is available for our training program. A county -
specific recruitment plan is developed and implemented to assess the children served, the
community and how best to attract a population of possible volunteers to reflect the children
served. The targeted recruitment plan is essential to ensure a diverse selection of qualified
volunteers is recruited.
Law requires volunteer screening. While this critical step is costly, it includes review of
completed written applications, pre -training interviews with staff, criminal background checks,
fingerprinting and reference checks. All of this information is vital in determining the profile of
potential candidates. Once the candidates complete and pass the screening process they
transition to the training. Due to volunteer attrition and the increasing number of DHS cases
coming into care, it is essential for us to maintain the three trainings per year schedule. The
34 -hour trainings take place in the fall, winter and spring and are completed with the volunteers
being sworn in by Judge Forte.
4. Explain how the proposed project or activity will impact the community's economic
health. Ninety-five percent of children with a CASA volunteer stay out of long-term foster care
and 90% of children with a CASA do not re-enter the child -welfare system. Children with a
CASA are more likely to be adopted. CASA volunteers provide a cost-effective solution and
measureable benefits to the child. A one month shorter say in foster care is on average a $3500
savings to the community. Fewer foster placements equal not falling behind in school — a
potential $7000 savings. Preventing recurrence of abuse ranges from a savings of $30,000 to
$125,000. Last year in the tri -county area, volunteers dedicated over 4,700 reported hours of
advocacy — a value of $95,000 to Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson counties.
5. Identify the specific communities or groups that will benefit. Children in Deschutes
County ranging in age from a premature baby born with methamphetamine in his system due to
his mother's addiction to a teenager who has been sexually abused by an adult family member
will benefit from this grant. These children represent the most vulnerable population in our
community. CASA works collaboratively with numerous agencies to ensure the child's best
interests are met. Deschutes County Behavioral Health, DHS, KIDS Center, Healthy Families of
the High Desert, Family Resource Center, Head Start, Mountain Star Relief Nursery, and the
public schools in Central Oregon are just a few of the partnerships CASA shares in our
community.
The following chart illustrates the demographics of children served in 2010.
2010
birth
6 - 12
13-18
Caucasian
Latino
Native
Asian
Male/female
5 yr
yr
yr
Amer.
Amer.
_
Deschutes
40%
28%
32%
81%
10%
4%
4%
54%/48%
6. Itemize anticipated expenditures*. Describe how grant funds will be used and include
the source and amounts of matching funds or in-kind contributions, if any. If the grant
will support an ongoing activity, explain how it will be funded in the future. revenue /
expenses.
Project Budget: $43,361
Project In -Kind Source & Amount Matching Fund Source and Amount
Volunteer Bend Radio Group PSAs Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation - $10,00
Recruitment, Combined Communications PSAs Herbert Templeton Foundation - $6,000
Screening, Bend Bulletin $3000
Training & Support Bendbroadband $10,000
Internal Revenue Service
Director, Exempt Organizations
Rulings and Agreements
Date:
NOV 2 2 2005
DESCHUTES COUNTY COURT APPOINTED
SPECIAL ADVOCATES
63360 BRITTA ST BLDG 1
BEND, OR 97701
Department of the Treasury
P.O. Box 2508
Cincinnati, Ohio 45201
Person to Contact - ID#:
Christopher Brown - 31-02806
Contact Telephone Numbers:
877-829-5500 Phone
513-263-3756 Fax
Federal Identification Number:
93-1062982
Dear Sir or Madam:
By our determination dated July 21, 1992, you were held to be exempt from
Federal Income Tax under the provisions of section 501(c) (3) of the
internal Revenue Code.
You recently furnished us information that the Crook & Jefferson Counties -
CASA Volunteer Program merged with Deschutes County Court Appointed Special
Advocates on August 2, 2005. Based on the information submitted, we have
determined that the merger does not affect your exempt status. The
organization will continue using Employer Identification Number 93-1062982.
Please let us know about any further changes in the character, purposes,
method of operation, name or address of your organization.
If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact the person
whose name and telephone number appear in the heading of this letter.
EnclosUre
Sincerely,
Lois G. Lerner
Director, Exempt Organizations
Rulings and Agreements
imrsunkr., R9WEN'NE SERVICE
DISTRICT DIRECTOR
P. 0. BOX 2508
CINCINNATI, OH 45201
Date: TR 11 1990
DESCHUTES COUNTY COURT APPOINTED
SPECIAL ADVOCATES
C/O PINECREST BOOXKEEPING
61331 KING JOSIAH pL
BEND, OR 97702
' / i.{r,, .etr1 17
DEPARTMLFNi OF THE TREASURY
Employer Identification Number:
93-1062982
tLN:
316163161
Contact Person:
D. A. DOWNING
Contact Telephone Number:
(513) 684-3957
Our Letter Pated:
July 21, 1992
Addendum Applies:
No
Dear Applicant:
This modifies our letter of the'above date in which we stated that you
would be treated as an organization that
is not a private foundation until the
expiration of your advance ruling petia
Your exempt status under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code as an
organization desori.bad in section 501(c)(3) is still in effect. Based on the
informatiO1 you submitted. we have determined that you are not a private
foundation within the messing of section 509(a) of the Code because you are an
organization of the type described in section 509(a)(1) and, 170(b)(1)(A)(vi).
Grantors and contributors may rely on this determination unless the
internal Revenue Service publishes notice to the contrary. However, if you
lose your section 509(a)(1) status, a grantor or contributor may not rely on
this determination if he or eine was in part reepoasible for, or was aware of,
the act or failure to act, or the subsstaannttiial lior rumamaterial
change
efon the
he parpart of
the organization that resulted in your
acquired knowledge that the Internal Revenue Service had given notice that you
would no longer be classified as a section 509(a)(1) organization.
If we have indicated in the heading of this letter that an addendum
applies, the addendum enclosed is an integral part of this letter.
Because this letter could help resolve any questions about your private
foundation status, please keep it in your permanent records.
If you have Buy questions, please contact the person whose name and
telephone number are shown above.
ZOO)]
Sincerely yours,
District Director
Letter 1050 (DOJCG)
SFd� dH5 68 h7 OCC '(F5 XYd OT CT LO/RI/80