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National CASA/GAL Association for Children appoints members to its National Research Advisory Council

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August 24, 2022

National CASA/GAL Association for Children appoints members to its National Research Advisory Council

NEWS

Contact: Kristina Vér Foley, kristinaf@nationalcasagal.org, 202.545.3319

Seattle, Wash. – The National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Association for Children, the leading organization that serves more young people in the child welfare system than any other national organization, appointed 10 members to its newly established National Research Advisory Council (NRAC).

The National CASA/GAL Board of Trustees established the council to serve as external research advisors to enhance the knowledge, evidence-base and methods from diverse scientific fields to provide insights, advice and strategic input on National CASA/GAL’s program design, implementation and research and evaluation portfolios. The NRAC members will provide perspective from the various scientific disciplines they represent, including experience in child welfare law, child-adolescent psychology/developmental psychology, clinical psychology, family science, implementation science, nursing, pediatrics, positive youth development/opportunity youth, program evaluation and research methods, psychiatry, and social work/child welfare/family services.

The following members of the NRAC have been appointed to serve a two-year term:

  • Dr. Valerie N. Adams-Bass, Assistant Professor of Childhood Studies, Rutgers University
  • Dr. Gino Aisenberg, Associate Professor, University of Washington School of Social Work
  • Dr. Harold E. Briggs, Pauline M. Berger Professor, Family and Child Welfare, University of Georgia School of Social Work
  • Dr. Suzanne Randolph Cunningham, Chief Science Officer, MayaTech Corp
  • Dr. Patricia Lester, Jane and Marc Nathanson Family Professor of Psychiatry, University of California, Los Angeles
  • Dr. Bernadette Melnyk, Vice President for Health Promotion, University Chief Wellness Officer and Dean, College of Nursing, The Ohio State University
  • Dr. Clark Peters, Associate Professor, School of Social Work, University of Missouri
  • Dr. Amy Salazar, Associate Professor, Human Development, Washington State University Vancouver
  • Dr. Jessica Saniġaq Ullrich, Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, University of Alaska, Anchorage
  • Dr. Bianca Wilson, Senior Scholar of Public Policy, University of California, Los Angeles School of Law Williams Institute

“National CASA/GAL is committed to ensuring that our programs, practices, resources and services are informed by best practices in the field to support children and their families,” said National CASA/GAL CEO Tara Lisa Perry. We are so excited to have a phenomenal group of subject matter experts to serve on the National Research Advisory Council to support our mission and vision.”

The duties of the NRAC include:

  • Contributing expertise to inform the program design, research and evaluation portfolios of the Association;
  • Ensuring that program models and research topics pursued by the Association are science- and practice-informed;
  • Enhancing the relevance and application of research data;
  • Bringing together experts with different skills, knowledge and expertise to address complex research issues;
  • Enhancing the quality, practicality, and visibility of the research; and
  • Critically reviewing relevant research for methodologies and findings on an as needed basis

The Council held their first meeting on August 23.


About the National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem Association for Children
The National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Association for Children, together with its 950 state and local member programs, supports and promotes court-appointed volunteer advocacy so that every child who has experienced abuse or neglect in the United States can be safe, have a permanent home and the opportunity to thrive. National CASA/GAL offers leadership and support to the national network of programs and leads its continued growth. National CASA GAL is also celebrating its 40th anniversary and impact, advocating for children who have experienced abuse and neglect. CASA/GAL volunteers and staff work every day to advocate for children, youth and families. To learn more, visit nationalcasagal.org.