About Us

CASA of Milam County and the child welfare system are working towards building a more family-focused network to better serve the best interest of children.

On February 26, 2024, the Honorable Judge Youngblood, appointed the first ever CASA of Milam County Volunteer Advocates. Lisa Cooper, CASA of Milam County Advocate Trainer and Rachel Owens, Executive Director for CASA of Milam County. We are so excited for the chapter to finally begin that started with Mike Wilson asking questions and looking for answers to help kids in the foster care system have a voice, in Milam County,
CASA VOLUNTEERS ARE, OF, AND FOR, THE COMMUNITY.
Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers are everyday people from the community appointed by a judge to look after a child’s best interests while they’re in foster care. CASA volunteers are well-trained and work to address a child’s needs around safety, permanency, connections and well-being. They represent the best interest of the child in court, monitor for child safety, and advocate to keep families together when it is possible. CASA volunteers learn about the child by getting to know the child and the child’s family, the child’s community members (caregivers, foster care providers, doctors, therapists, teachers, etc.) and the child’s legal team (their attorney and their caseworker). CASA VOLUNTEERS SUPPORT CHILDREN AND FAMILIES INVOLVED IN THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. CASA volunteers provide a consistent presence for the child and family. They stay by a child’s side throughout the case, advocating first for reunification when safe and possible. Can I be a CASA volunteer if I work full-time? Yes, many CASA volunteers balance the role with working full time. On average they spend 10-15 hours per month on their case. How much training is needed? Complete at least 30 hours of training prior to being sworn in by a judge and assigned a case. They visit the children at least once a month. Some portions of the case work can be done over the phone or over a computer.. EVERY CHILD HAS A CHANCE - IT'S YOU!

CASA of Milam County is now accepting Advocate Volunteer Applications. If you are interested in making a difference in a child's life and would like an application, please email Executive Director, Rachel Owens at rachel.owens@milamcountycasa.org or call 512-429-1336/512-429-2207, and an application will be emailed to you. We are ready to begin training. Must be able to pass CPS and DPS background checks as well as being fingerprinted. The link to apply directly is https://tx-milam.evintosolutions.com/VolunteerApplication.

April is a very busy month for CASA of Milam County. It is Child Abuse Prevention month. GO BLUE DAY is April 5th and we will join Judge Whitmire on the Courthouse lawn at 10 a.m. in Cameron when he signs the proclamation to end child abuse in our County. All justice System personnel are welcome as well as all community members. The Milam County CPS Board will also join us. Later that evening at 6 p.m. at the Kay Theater in Rockdale we will show ''Instant Family'', a movie about fostering children. FREE entry for all as well as FREE popcorn and a drink. Wear blue all day to show support.

You can also show your support by donating $10 and receive a free blue light bulb to help us ''Light the County Blue''. Put the blue light bulb out for the month of April to help us educate and prevent child abuse.

Be on the lookout for the date of the ''Justice Is Served'' Pancake Breakfast in Cameron. Pancake breakfast will be served by judges, jailers, sheriffs, police chiefs, police officers, volunteer fire departments and any folks employed in the justice system. Be on the lookout on our Facebook page for more details.

Businesses and anyone interested can donate $50 and receive 10 blue pinwheels and our CASA yard sign to be displayed outside their home or place of business for the month of April to show your support and help prevent child abuse.

National Blue Sunday is April 28th. Educate your church about the effects and statistics of child abuse. Need pamphlets or handouts to distribute at church or any organization? Let Rachel Owens know and she will gladly bring them to you. Would you like us to come talk to your organization? We love visiting with our community.

We want to thank our donors who purchased a sponsorship for our first inaugural T-shirt, ''Stepping Up To Child Abuse''. (see attached picture with all business logos and names as well as a pic of the front of the t-shirt). If you would like to purchase a t-shirt, please contact Rachel Owens at rachel.owens@milamcountycasa.org or call her at (512) 429-1336. They are $25 for an adult size (Small-4XL) and $20 for youth sizes(youth small-large). Sponsors for our inaugural T-shirt are RIOT, Classic Bank, Mighty Fortress Electric, Rock Nails & Spa, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Will's Garage, Attorneys of Texas Title, Hecho En Texas BBQ, Cameron Beer Market, Haber Wealth Management, Gonzalez Mexican Bar & Grill, USA Technologies, Texas Electrical Services, Di-Hard Fitness Studio, Main Street Book Shop, Carla Woods, FNP, EBCO General Contractor, T-Fulton Trucking, The Office, Alpha Tau Delta Rockdale, Liberty Family Dental, Myers Auto Repair Service, ZX made in Texas, and Rockdale Building Material Center, Rockdale General Store, Jacob's Ladder, Prosperity Bank, Standards Home Health, Cardinal Roofing and Exteriors, Shirley Mae's Bakery and last but not least, in memory of Neveah Louise Shelander!

Want to donate? We are a 501(c)3 organization so you you have the opportunity to use it as donation for a tax write off. You may donate via Venmo, Paypal, and with your credit card via Square as well as mail checks to P. O. Box 445, Rockdale, TX 76567

You may also contact any of our Board members: Deby Leschber, Shannon Biar, Craig Snow, Jessica Hopfenspirger, Doc Shuffield, Charles Malcolm, Charles Obermiller, Becca Parker, Lisa Todd, Eddie Klekar, Lana Klekar, and Madison Tabor-Garcia.

We have 3 Board positions open if you are interested in sitting on the Board, though we do very little sittting!

If you have any questions or would like for us to come and speak to any organization, please let us know.



Regards,
Rachel Owens
CASA of Milam County
Executive Director
512-429-1336 cell
512-429-2207 office