Baton Rouge, La. – Casey Family Programs announced today that it will transfer its Baton Rouge foster care operations to Volunteers of America Greater Baton Rouge, effective May 1. This announcement comes nearly a year after Casey announced a comprehensive restructure of its organization, resulting in the closing of 10 of its 26 offices nationwide, including its office in Baton Rouge.
Casey’s current caseload of 47 youth and young adults will transfer to Volunteers of America. Casey Family Programs has been serving the Baton Rouge community since 1986, providing long term foster care to about 700 youth and a variety of foster care-related services to approximately 2,000 youth and young adults through its collaborations and partnerships with various other agencies and organizations.
“Volunteers of America has a long and impressive history of providing quality work across many fronts to improve family and community life in the Baton Rouge area,” said Ruth Massinga, president and CEO of Casey Family Programs. “We know of their commitment and focus on foster youth through partnering with them on the highly successful Youth Oasis program for youth leaving the foster care system. We are very comfortable that their depth and breadth of knowledge and expertise will serve our youth and families well.”
Casey established Youth Oasis in 1996, pulling together several public and private social service agencies, including Volunteers of America, to provide a range of services to prepare foster care youth and young adults for independent living and adulthood. Jane Shank, president/CEO of Volunteers of America, serves on the Youth Oasis board of directors. Youth Oasis, founded under the name Baton Rouge Alliance for Transitional Living (BRATL), was the first program in Baton Rouge to address the needs of youth transitioning out of the foster care system and continues to be the main source of transition services for foster care youth outside the state system. Since its inception, the program has served about 350 current and former foster care youth and young adults, ages 16 to 21, in its housing and outreach programs.
Shank said “As sad as we are to see Casey Family Programs cease its operations in Baton Rouge, Volunteers of America is delighted to have this opportunity to continue to provide the same high quality services to children and families. We have a great deal of experience in this field and we are committed to upholding Casey’s very high standards of care and support.”
About Volunteers of America Greater Baton Rouge
Established in Baton Rouge in 1921, Volunteers of America Greater Baton Rouge is the locally-governed, locally-administered, and locally-funded affiliate of Volunteers of America, the nationwide charity founded in 1896. Volunteers of America helps individuals lead richer, fuller lives, strengthens families, and builds community life.
Nowhere is this mission more evident than in the organization’s efforts to combat child abuse and to care for its young victims in pursuit of the goal that every child grows up in a safe and loving family.
www.voa-br.org