GUARDIAN ANGELS

Meet the volunteers who advocate for children placed in state custody one child at a time

In 2017, two teenagers were forced to live in a Child Protective Services office in Houston because there was nowhere else for them to go. They escaped the offices, and 10 hours later a mini-van struck them as they walked along the side of the road. One of the girls died at the scene. She was 15.

The trauma that those teens faced is all too common. In response to a growing crisis for Texas’ foster care system, many changes have been made to CPS. However, there’s one East Dallas-headquartered organization that focuses solely on the well-being of children when they are placed into state custody and make their way through the system: Dallas’ Court

Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).

In 2016, 1,726 children were removed from their homes in Dallas County, resulting in 4,626 total children in foster care or other placements that year. CASA recruits volunteers to follow these children and defend their rights until they reach a safe home. In 2017, CASA advocated