Cultivating a Space for Advocates in the Foster Care System

“We are extremely grateful for the past gift from the Hulston Foundation that enabled CASA of Southwest Missouri to relocate and expand our space. By having the additional space this office provided us, we have expanded the mission of CASA within our community and are serving more foster children than ever before. We could not have done this without your generous support. Your gift allowed us to dream big. Thanks to you, we are getting closer to our goal of serving every child in foster care in Greene and Christian Counties.”

Laura Farmer, Executive Director

With a mission to protect abused and neglected children in Kansas City and Southwest Missouri, CASA recruits, trains and supports a community of volunteers who advocate for children in foster care.

In 2018, the Hulston Family Foundation contributed a grant which assisted CASA’s move to their very own office space where funds are used to pay monthly rent. Housing 9 full-time employees, 1 part-time employee and 6 volunteer coordinators, this building is now home to a nonprofit which serves as a voice for foster care in the courtroom. When they were asked to leave their previous location due to COVID shutdowns, CASA was facing significant challenges that could have had a devastating result for the organization and, more importantly, for the children in foster care that they serve.

The operational funds provided by the Hulston Family Foundation have allowed them to focus on raising funds to recruit and train volunteers to serve more children in the foster care system.

Less than 25% of CASA’s foster children return to the foster care system, leading to lowering the overall rate of recidivism. With their new office space made possible by the Hulston Family Foundation grant, CASA has also gone from 85 volunteers to over 200. Now, even more children are being served.