SAVE THE DATE of Saturday, February 9, 2008!! The annual CASA for the Highland Lakes Area’s Valentine Day Gala is coming up and once again will be held at the Horseshoe Bay Marriott. Tickets are $100 per person, which includes a Champagne Reception, Dinner, and Dance. We are excited to have music, for the second year in a row, by John Arthur Martinez. There will also be a live auction, silent auction and raffle. For more information, please call 325 388-3440.

CASA for the Highland Lakes Area’s program has been in the Hill Country since 1993. CASA is a Court Appointed Special Advocated for abused and/or neglected children. CASA Volunteers become advocates speaking on behalf of the best interest of the child, in the court system. The program is one of the rural CASA programs covering 4,487.7 square miles by serving the five counties of Blanco, Burnet, Lampasas, Llano and San Saba. CASA for the Highland Lakes Area serves 100% of the cases in the five counties - anytime a child is removed from their home by the Department of Family & Protective Services (TDFPS, known as CPS), due to abuse or neglect. CASA for the Highland Lakes Area stays with the children from day one of removal until permanency is achieved (from the day removed from their home by DFPS and assigned to CASA until the child either ages our/becomes 18, or finds permanency).

In the year of 2007, 93 volunteers in the Highland Lakes area were appointed by the Court as CASA Volunteers. At a rate of $70 per hour (the amount paid to a court appointed Attorney ad Litem in the 33^rd Judicial District, CASA Volunteers have donated 9,000 hours, representing $630,000 in savings for taxpayers in our area! Since 1993, CASA for the Highland Lakes Area has advocated for over 1,000 children; currently serving 206 children that are in foster care at present time. CASA volunteers become the eyes and ears for the judge during this difficult time. From the day of removal, the court has one year to find a safe and permanent home for the children, the CASA Volunteers becomes part of the court process for that specific case during that year’s time.

Because of CASA for the Highland Lakes Area, these children have advocates who care for them and who truly represent their best interests. Your support of CASA for the Highland Lakes Area provides great assistance in aiding the abused and/or neglected children of Burnet, Blanco, Lampasas and San Saba Counties. The board, staff and volunteers of CASA of the Highland Lakes Area are greatly appreciative of our counties’ continued support.