1. United States
2. Md.
3. Letter

The National CASA/GAL Association and its member programs play a vital role in advocating for the best interests of abused and neglected children across the country. The recent termination of federal grant funding from the Department of Justice severely undermines this crucial work and jeopardizes the well-being of over 200,000 vulnerable children involved in abuse and neglect cases. As a court-appointed special advocate, my role is to ensure these children have a voice and their rights are protected during legal proceedings. However, without proper funding and resources, our ability to effectively carry out this duty is significantly hindered. Many state and local CASA/GAL programs rely heavily on this federal support to train volunteers, provide technical assistance, and sustain operations. I urge you to take immediate action and contact the Department of Justice, expressing your strong opposition to this funding cut. The termination notice claims the grants "no longer effectuate the program goals or agency priorities," which directly contradicts the CASA/GAL mission of protecting American children. This decision is misguided and will have devastating consequences for young victims of abuse and neglect who desperately need committed advocates in their corner. Reinstate funding for the National CASA/GAL Association to uphold our nation's commitment to safeguarding children's well-being and ensuring justice for those failed by the system. These at-risk youth cannot afford to have their voices silenced or their interests disregarded due to budgetary politics. I implore you to be their champion and fight to restore the resources essential for CASA/GAL volunteers to continue their life-changing work.