We need your voices!
As many of you have heard, CASA of Missoula has been negatively impacted by the sudden cancellation of federal funding happening across the nation. On April 22nd, the Federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) informed National CASA/GAL that they would be halting all funds to the organization, effective immediately.
To our knowledge, these funds were made available to the Department of Justice by Congress to make grants to independent organizations who work in the field of Justice, which gives our representatives authority to direct how they are spent.
While National CASA/GAL has filed an appeal to restore funding on May 9th, it is up to Congressional representatives to put pressure on the Justice Department to take that appeal seriously and restore the Congressionally-approved funding to the organizations who receive these grants. We would like everyone who can to contact your representatives to ask them to review the appeal and speak about it with the Department of Justice before the end of May.
HOW WE GOT HERE:
According to the notices received by National CASA/GAL, the funding to the National CASA/GAL organization is being terminated because the Department of Justice, which oversees the OJJDP has decided that the National CASA/GAL organization “no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities.”
The OJJDP office states that one of its agency priorities is “protecting American children.” Since that is also the mission of all CASA/GAL programs, we feel this federal decision was made in error, and see strong reasoning for the funding to be restored.
HOW IT AFFECTS LOCAL CHILDREN IN MISSOULA:
Since the national funding was immediately terminated, National CASA/GAL had to cancel disbursements of all current grants, including a grant in progress with CASA of Missoula. The cancelled grant had $12,000 left to be disbursed, causing our organization to lose $12,000.
For fiscal year 2026, we had planned to propose $55,000 in projects to National CASA/GAL, in hopes of securing at least $30,000 in funds. Now, we cannot explore that possibility, projecting at least $30,000 in grant funding loss for fiscal year 2026.
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Please use your voice to further advocate for our kids by contacting our representatives and asking them to reinstate funding to the National CASA/GAL Organization. Our work is essential for protecting at-risk youth in our communities.
Some example language to use for reaching out to our representatives:
CASA/GAL volunteers are appointed by judges in judicial proceedings related to abuse and neglect to advocate for children’s best interests. This best interest advocacy makes a life-changing difference for children who have experienced abuse or neglect, many of whom are in foster care.
The U.S. Congress, through the annual appropriations laws, has funded the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program for more than 30 years. This loss of funding impacts the training, technical assistance and subawards to member programs across the country including CASA of Missoula. Without these funds, the work of CASA/GAL programs across the country will be impacted along with more than 200,000 children involved in child abuse and neglect proceedings.
Over half the children in our local foster care system are under the age of five—their CASAs help them get essential medical care, safe housing, and time with safe caregivers. These children are at an age where they need an adult in their lives who can remain focused on their wellbeing.
Often, their lawyers and social workers are overwhelmed with high caseloads that such individualized attention cannot take place consistently—CASAs are these children’s anchors.
The Court-Appointed Advocates’ work is essential to supporting abused and neglected children’s wellbeing, and supporting their future success.
Contact our Representatives here, or visit their local offices in Missoula:
Ryan Zinke: https://zinke.house.gov/contact 202-225-5628
Tim Sheehy: https://www.sheehy.senate.gov/share-your-opinion/ 202-224-2644
Steve Daines: https://www.daines.senate.gov/services/email-steve/ 202-224-2651