The Texas Bar Foundation recently awarded Child Advocates of Fort Bend a $10,000 grant which will be used to support the position of the WINGS Coordinator. WINGS is a component within the Court Appointed Special Advocates Program.
Child Advocates of Fort Bend trains volunteers to advocate in the civil court system on behalf of abused or neglected children in foster care. The WINGS component trains the volunteer advocates to advocate for the needs of teenagers giving them the “wings” to fly once they become adults.
The Fort Bend County WINGS component was a pilot program in Texas which started in 2005. Since inception, the high school graduation rate of Fort Bend County children in foster care has gone from 48 percent to 65 percent. Child Advocates of Fort Bend has been asked to train other CASA programs across the state to start their own WINGS component.
Child Advocates of Fort Bend provides a voice for abused and neglected children in Fort Bend County. The agency served 30 percent more children in 2009 than in 2008 and is on track to serve another 30 percent more again this year. Volunteers are needed to help in the agency’s Children’s Advocacy Center and in the Court Appointed Special Advocates Program. For information on volunteering contact Volunteer Services at 281-344-5171.
