National Leadership Council

BAY ST. LOUIS, MISSISSIPPI– CASA of Hancock County announces the appointment of Cynthia Chauvin, Executive Director to the National Leadership Council of the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association.

Serving a one-year term, Chauvin, along with child welfare leaders from across the nation, will play an integral role in voicing the unique needs of more than 950 state and local programs that make up the CASA and Guardian ad Litem (GAL) network. The council serves as the CASA/GAL network voice to the National CASA Board of Trustees. In 2018, the CASA/GAL network, with its 85,000 volunteers, served more than 260,000 children who have experienced abuse and neglect. With more than 400,000 children in foster care on any given day, the leadership council will focus its efforts on ensuring that the network achieves its mission of serving all children through best-interest advocacy.

“The National Leadership Council is a vital part of our efforts to serve more children in the foster care system, while continually improving their outcomes,” said Tara Perry, Chief Executive Officer of National CASA. “We are so excited and grateful to have Cynthia Chauvin providing her insight and expertise as we strive to move our mission forward on behalf of all children who have experienced abuse or neglect.”

Since relocating to Mississippi in late 2013, Chauvin has expanded the CASA organization in Hancock County from 26 volunteers to over 100 and the organization is currently serving 98% of the county’s foster care population. In addition to significantly increasing the number of volunteer CASA advocates, under her leadership the program has instituted best practices in child advocacy which is most often witnessed inside the courtroom where 85% of CASA volunteers recommendations become ordered by the Youth Court.

“I am so honored to be appointed to this important national role”, said Chauvin, Executive Director, CASA of Hancock County. “As a local program director, I look forward to bringing our successes and challenges to the network and being a part of the process that improves our work across the nation.”

The National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association, together with its state and local member programs, supports and promotes court-appointed volunteer advocacy so every abused or neglected child in the United States can be safe, have a permanent home and have the opportunity to thrive.

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