Six CASA programs participate in national project focused on LGBTQ practices and policies

In 2020, six Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) organizations from across the country partnered with All Children – All Families (ACAF) to implement LGBTQ-inclusive policies and practices. The following CASA programs successfully completed all activities as part of ACAF’s 2020 cohort:

Building Foundation for Inclusion

• CASA Child Advocates of Montgomery County (TX)
• Sacramento CASA (CA)

Solid Foundation for Inclusion

• Tippecanoe County CASA (IN)

Innovative Inclusion

• Child Advocates of Silicon Valley, CA
• Norfolk CASA Inc. (VA)
• Texas CASA

Through a rigorous year-long process, the cohort worked diligently to conduct an internal self-assessment, provide professional development to staff, and implement ACAF’s Benchmarks of LGBTQ Inclusion, which track policy and practice changes within agencies.

Their participation illustrates a growing movement within the CASA/GAL network and the child welfare system that recognizes LGBTQ-inclusion is essential to achieving the goals of safety, permanency and well-being. Learn more about the All Children – All Families project and its three tiers of recognition.