CASA Day at the Capitol 2024

CASA of Kent County is fortunate to have the support of our state organization, Michigan CASA. While family court cases and individualized advocacy take place at the county level, Michigan CASA supports local programs (like Kent County!) and focuses on legislative advocacy for our program. Michigan CASA helps start new CASA programs in previously unserved counties, provides technical support and training to local programs, grants essential funding, and more.

For the past several years, our wonderful state organization has held CASA Day at the Capitol in Lansing. This day of legislative advocacy gives local programs the opportunity to connect with their state legislators, thank them for their support, and request continued funding in the state budget the following year. Local CASA programs from across the state traveled to Lansing to meet with senators and representatives from their districts. Michigan CASA’s President & CEO Patty Sabin shared, “Every year we look forward to CASA Day at the Capitol.  It is a time to meet our policy makers and educate them about the plight of the abused and neglected children in our communities.  Their support is critical in helping keep our children safe, supported, and heard.” 

This year’s event, held on May 16, was extra special for a couple of reasons:

1. Not only did local programs ask for continued funding in the state budget, we also advocated for the CASA Act (H.B. 5429), legislation that will codify Michigan CASA in state law.
2. This was Patty’s last official CASA event before her retirement.

Collectively, stakeholders from local CASA programs across the state shared our mission with dozens of legislators to make them aware of the importance of our work in child advocacy. While it will likely be several weeks before next year’s state budget is finalized, we are excited to share that the CASA Act has been passed by the Michigan House of Representatives and has moved on to the Senate.

Thank you to Michigan CASA and to Patty Sabin for leading the way in spreading the word about CASA’s essential mission. Patty, we are so grateful for your leadership the past several years and wish you the very best in your retirement!