CASA of Harford County has been awarded a $15,000 Loyola Children’s Law and Policy Executive Program Grant from the National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Association for Children. CASA of Harford County recruits, trains and supports volunteers who advocate for the best interests of children who have experienced abuse or neglect.
The grant will pay for CASA of Harford County’s Executive Director, Ross DiEdoardo to obtain a certificate in Children’s Law and Policy from Loyola University-Chicago. This program was made possible by the long-standing relationship between Loyola University and National CASA/GAL. The Children’s Law and Policy Executive Program is one component of National CASA/GAL’s professional development initiative that offers grant funding for tuition costs for directors and staff members. This program has been customized for members of the CASA/GAL network. CASA/GAL leaders from across the country will devote a year of coursework to learn about child welfare policy, study law and the legal system, and to amass leadership skills.
“I’m excited to be chosen to participate in this learning experience being provided by National CASA and Loyola University-Chicago. Gaining a better understanding of the law and how it affects child welfare policy will help to improve my knowledge and skill set, which in turn, will allow me to pass this wisdom on to my staff and our advocates,” said Ross DiEdoardo, Executive Director of CASA of Harford County.
There are 950 CASA/GAL programs nationwide, including 49 state offices. The federal grant funds distributed through National CASA/GAL are provided by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, U.S. Department of Justice, as authorized under the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990.
About CASA of Harford County
Our mission is to provide court appointed volunteers who advocate for the best interest of children in the child welfare system in Harford County. We achieve this mission through recruiting and training volunteers who represent the diversity of the children we serve. Our vision is a world where every child who has experienced abuse or neglect is given the opportunity to thrive in a safe and loving home.
To learn more, visit casaofharfordcounty.org or follow CASA of Harford County on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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