[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 30, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1948]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   CONGRATULATING COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES (CASA) OF FRESNO 
                                 COUNTY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 30, 2001

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Court 
Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Fresno County for earning 
national recognition for their exemplary volunteer service in the 
community. CASA of Fresno County has been named one of California's top 
honorees for community service.
  CASA of Fresno County is a nonprofit organization which advocates for 
the best interest of abused and neglected children within the Juvenile 
Court system. Based on the belief that every child is entitled to a 
safe and permanent home, CASA works in the court system through trained 
volunteers in collaboration with key agencies, legal counsel and 
community resources to serve as the child's advocate and voice in the 
dependency process. CASA advocates are recruited from Fresno County's 
culturally diverse communities and trained by qualified community 
professionals, counselors, and educators.
  In late 1998, Fresno was one of the four counties awarded a 3-year 
demonstration project by the Stuart Foundation to focus on infants and 
toddlers under the age of 3. In collaboration with Fresno County 
Department of Children and Families, and other agencies, CASA of Fresno 
County created an innovative infrastructure of new health and 
development programs for infants and toddlers and is being cited as a 
model by the State of California for other counties.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate CASA of Fresno County for 
receiving national recognition for their exemplary volunteer service in 
the Fresno community. I urge my colleagues to join me in wishing CASA 
of Fresno County many more years of continued success.

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