Chelan-Douglas child advocacy group lobbies for continued financial support

Chelan County’s reduced support for a child welfare program brought program advocates to the weekly county commission legislative meeting Monday.

Chelan-Douglas CASA (court appointed special advocates) supports foster children and other youth in need of services and care.

In Chelan County this year, financial support was cut by $19,000, a 22% reduction from last year.

"It saves this county hundreds of thousands of dollars per year," said CASA volunteer Hans Mulders when advising the commissioners of the return on their investment in the program.

"You have a real opportunity to demonstrate fiscal responsibility and moral leadership," CASA board chair Linda Dimmet told the commissioners.

Chelan County Juvenile Justice Center Administrator Corey Stephens told the commissioners that its much more expensive to run the CASA program in house than it is with the volunteer-based program used in Chelan and Douglas counties.

On the suggestion of commissioner Kevin Overbay, he and Chelan County Housing Program Coordinator Amber Hallberg are exploring the use of homeless housing funds that the county receives to support CASA at last year’s level.

Commissioner Overbay said Tuesday that he's interested in seeing the nexus of the use of the housing fund with the services provided by CASA. "How it ties to housing and how much of their budget is actually tied towards the housing and relocation, and permanent housing, from transition from foster care," said Overbay.

The program operates in both Chelan and Douglas counties, where financial support is $75,000 and $61,000, respectively this year.

Learn more about the Chelan-Douglas Court Appointed Special Advocates program for youth here.