Dallas CASA, which helps children navigate the foster care system, says the need for volunteers is heightened now. It comes after a week of turmoil that saw the Texas foster care agency remove the private company overseeing Dallas County cases. Kathleen LaValle says the current moment requires those interested in volunteering to step up. “The timing is incredibly critical,” LaValle said. The CEO of Dallas CASA, or court appointed special advocates, says this week marks among the most challenging for the foster care system in Dallas County. On Tuesday, the Texas Department of Family Services removed the private contractor charged with overseeing case management for thousands of children in foster care. It comes four months after a Dallas County judge placed EMPOWER under receivership following the deaths of two children in its care. Texas in recent years has turned to community-based care, which allows private contractors – instead of Child Protective Services – to handle case management for children in foster care. LaValle says oftentimes CASA volunteers would help manage cases for EMPOWER case managers. “A long run of workforce instability, constant turnover in their case managers, which is very disruptive,” LaValle said. “We are the consistent element as all of this change occurs.” A spokesperson for Kansas-based The Family Initiative Inc, which EMPOWER operates under, acknowledged a request for comment, but did not provide a response at the time this story was published. Texas Family Care Network, which already oversees foster care cases in a portion of East Texas, was appointed by Texas DFPS to take over the contract. LaValle said CASA representatives from East Texas reported positive experiences working with TFCN. “We’re hoping whatever practices were working there can translate into a positive outcome for Dallas County,” LaValle said. “If this disruption brings us to a point where we have consistently high-quality casework, then it will be worth it.” ...read more read less