The recipient entity's physical address:
           2051 Silverside Dr., Suite 240
Baton Rouge, LA 70808-9005

The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           2051 Silverside Dr., Suite 240
Baton Rouge, LA 70808-9005

Type of Entity (for instance, a nonprofit corporation):  Non-Profit Corporation

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          Elizabeth Betz
Debbie Bowes
Patricia Green

The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  5057

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $75,000

What type of request is this?  General Appropriation

Is this entity in good standing with the Secretary of State?  Yes

Provide the name of each member of the recipient entity's governing board and officers:
           Benjamin Huxen, President of the Board of Directors,12033 Oakshire Ave. BR, LA 70810

Professor Jacqueline Nash-Grant, Vice-President of the Board of Directors, 2 Roosevelt Steptoe Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70813

Teresa Lawrence; Secretary of the Board of Directors, 2709 L& A Road, Metairie, LA 70001

Gloria Nye, Treasurer of the Board of Directors, 2508 Bocage Lake Dr.

Baton Rouge, LA 70809

Larry Attenhofer, 107 Berkshire Lane,Lafayette, LA 70508

Herman Brister, 6200 Rougon Road, Port Allen, LA 70767

Judge Angela Claxton, 100 North Cedar Street, Tallulah, LA 71282

Lynn Farris, 13509 Hico Drive Baker, LA 70711

Sherry Guarisco, 266 Seyburn Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Captain Darwin Jones, 1077 West Pointe Loop, Shreveport, LA 71106

Karen Levo Lucas, 204 Vermillion Place Bossier City, LA 71112

Professor Lucy McGough, GH 11-12, 333 Lee Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Deron Patin, 6950 Lagoon Court, Greenwell Springs,LA 70739

Anselmo Rodriguez, 37173 Whitestone Drive, Geismar, LA 70734

Cinnamon Salvador, 5725 Spruce, Lake Charles, LA 70609

Leteya Scott, 624 Percy Brown Road Apt. 924, Thibodaux, LA 70301

Michelle Shelton, 17093 Swamp Road West, Prairieville, LA 70769

Anita Tennant-Mack, ) 603 Hodge Watson Rd., Calhoun, LA 71225

Renita Williams Thomas, 17408 Old Scenic Hwy., Zachary, LA 70791-8503

Kathleen Stewart Richey, Executive Director, 1659 S. Tamarix St. Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Provide a summary of the project or program:
           The Louisiana Court Appointed Special Advocate Association (LA CASA) is a statewide organization that provides training and technical assistance to 17 local CASA programs serving 61 parishes across Louisiana. LA CASA plans to host a statewide conference for local program staff and CASA volunteers designed to enhance advocacy for abused and neglected children. The conference would focus on child development, family functioning and court processes with national experts as keynote speakers.

As the statewide association for 17 local CASA programs LA CASA works to connect each part of the CASA community and empower the local programs to perform at their highest level. At the local level, the programs recruit, train and supervise CASA volunteers to advocate for children involved in the child welfare system and improve their well-being. At the state level, LA CASA provides support, training, and services to help the local programs operate effectively.

Because the participants are unpaid CASA volunteers, LA CASA is seeking funding to cover the lodging costs and meals for 100 Conference participants and the speaker stipends and travel for two nationally recognized speakers.

What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $9,805
          Professional Services. . . $6,500
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $0
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $0
          Operating Services. . . . $3,695
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $55,000

Does your organization have any outstanding audit issues or findings?  No

If 'Yes' is your organization working with the appropriate governmental agencies to resolve those issues or findings?
          Not Applicable

What is the entity's public purpose, sought to be achieved through the use of state monies?
          CASA is the only program in which everyday citizens are appointed by a judge to speak up for a child’s safety and well-being. Our goal is to ensure that every abused or neglected child has a well-trained, highly skilled, volunteer speaking up for their best interests. The children served have suffered unspeakable trauma and then are thrust into a child welfare and court system that can be complicated. LA CASA is committed to providing appropriate training to enhance CASA advocacy and improve outcomes for Louisiana’s children.

Recent media reports highlight the need for individual attention for every child subject to abuse or neglect or in foster care. While CASA volunteers monitor foster children and report to the court regarding the child’s needs, the volunteers need appropriate training and support to be effective. The Louisiana CASA Conference is designed to provide information and skills that would support the CASA volunteer, ensuring safe, healthy outcomes for children.

What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          Goal 1: Increase the knowledge and advocacy skills of volunteers to advocate for child victims of abuse more effectively.

Objective 1-1: The statewide CASA conference will increase and enhance volunteer knowledge necessary to effectively advocate for children.

Objective 1-2: The statewide CASA conference will provide volunteer advocates with the skills necessary to effectively advocate for children.



Goal 2: Provide the opportunity for CASA volunteers to fulfill mandatory continuing education requirements as well as to collaborate with other programs around the state.

Objective 2-1: The statewide CASA conference will increase and enhance training opportunities based on a training needs assessment.

Objective 2-2: The conference schedule will include time for collaborative exchanges between volunteers and program staff to share challenges, solutions, and best practices.

What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           The CASA Conference is a three day event; planning and preparation is planned for seven months; evaluation is planned for six weeks

If any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official is an officer, director, trustee, or employee of the recipient entity who receives compensation or holds any ownership interest therein:
     (a) If an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of the official and the office held by such person:
                 Judge Angela Claxton, 6th Judicial District Court, 100 North Cedar Street, Tallulah, LA 71282, member of the Louisiana CASA Board of Directors.
    
     (b) If an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of such person; the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related; and the nature of the relationship:
                 Captain Darwin Jones, also on the Louisiana CASA Board of Directors, is married to Judge Ree Casey- Jones, Caddo Parish Juvenile Court. Captain Jones address is 1077 West Pointe Loop, Shreveport, LA 71106. Jude Cases-Jones court address is 1835 Spring Street, Shreveport, LA 71101

     (c) The percentage of the official's or immediate family member's ownership interest in the recipient entity, if any:
                 0

     (d) The position, if any, held by the official or immediate family member in the recipient entity:
                  Member of the Louisiana CASA Board of Directors

If the recipient entity has a contract with any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official or with the state or any political subdivision of the state:
(a) If the contract is with an elected or appointed state official, provide the name and address of the official and the office held by such person: 
               Not applicable

(b) If the contract is with an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official:
          Provide the name and address of such person:
               Not applicable

          Provide the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related:
                Not applicable

          What is the nature of the relationship?  Not Applicable

(c) If the contract is with the state or a political subdivision of the state, provide the name and address of the state entity or political subdivision of the state:
                 Louisiana CASA has a contract with the Louisiana Child Welfare Training Academy,310 W Dakota St, Hammond, LA 70401 [Southeastern Louisiana University]

(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               Louisiana CASA provides training support and hosts various training events sponsored by the Louisiana Child

Welfare Training Academy and DCFS. For each training session, where applicable, Louisiana CASA shall provide and ensure the following, but not limited to:

¿ Obtain a signature log of participants;

¿ Provide water, coffee, and snacks for all requested training groups;

¿ Provide lunch as requested to meet the needs to facilitate a working lunch;

¿ Provide name tags for all attendees;

¿ Provide each participant with a white, three-ring binder with clear cover;

¿ Print approximately 30 pages of training/resource material per training event provided to the Contractor by LCWTA/DCFS; to be placed into the individual participant binders.

¿ Set up training room(s) as requested by DCFS/ LCWTA liaison or designee;

¿ Ensure that the training room is returned to the original condition;

¿ Provide certificate and certificate holder for participants completing the Supervisor Certification Training or other identified professional development training.


Contact Information
name:  Amanda L Moody 
                                       address:  2051 Silverside Drive
Suite 240
                                       phone:  2259300305
                                       fax:  2259300306
                                       e-mail:  amoody@louisianacasa.org
                                       relationship to entity:  Director of Member Services