Dallas CASA supports children waiting for forever families
Each year, courthouses across Dallas County trade packed dockets for party decorations, superhero visits, and families ready to begin a new chapter together.
The county’s 25th anniversary of the annual National Adoption Day was celebrated as judges and court officials volunteered their weekend to finalize the adoptions for 17 children in foster care, ushering kids into permanent, loving homes.
A space often associated with hardship, instead echoed the excitement and laughter of children as the third floor of the Henry Wade Juvenile Justice Center was transformed for the occasion. Professional photographers snapped families’ first portraits, and youngsters darted between caped crusaders and craft tables with new teddy bears tucked safely under an arm.
Dallas CASA served as the event’s backbone, coordinating the families, attorneys, Child Protective Services staff, and the Dallas CASA volunteers who support the children throughout their time in foster care.
Judge Delia Gonzales and her staff donated their time to preside over the adoptions, supported by representatives from the Dallas County Sheriff ’s Office, the District Clerk’s Office, the Child Welfare Board, the Juvenile Department, and Henry Wade Security. Steering the celebration were event chairs SanJuana Ramirez, Nicki Stafford, and Lisa Truppa of the Dallas CASA Children’s Council.
For Dallas CASA, the celebration reflected its continued mission in action. The organization’s volunteers, who numbered more than 1,000 in 2024, advocate for the best interests of children living in protective care — CASA representatives explaining that the trained volunteers are often the only constant adult presence in a child’s life during uncertain times.
While Dallas CASA, now in its 45th year, has made transformative progress in foster care advocacy, when EMPOWER took over case management responsibilities from Child Protective Services in March 2024, it resulted in a near 100% caseworker turnover rate with new hires having little, if any, child welfare experience, reported Dallas CASA president and chief executive officer Kathleen LaValle.
The transition, which was mandated by the Texas Legislature, forced the privatization of the child welfare system model, impacting more children in Dallas than in any other Texas region, reported the organization’s leadership. Fortunately, said LaValle, CASA was able to step in to fill the gaps.
“With the importance of consistent and caring connections, the role of Dallas CASA volunteers and staff as a ‘lifeline’ for child victims in foster care is more critical now than ever before,” she said.
National Adoption Day, which occurs on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, is part of a nationwide effort spanning more than 400 communities. The movement has helped more than 90,000 children find permanent families since 1999. And for the children who walked out of the courthouse with their new families, the day marked a future filled with stability, safety, and a sense of belonging that may have, before then, felt far out of reach.
But beyond the festive decorations and superhero costumes there remains a powerful truth that thousands of children are still waiting for a family. According to CASA, in Texas alone, nearly 6,000 children remain eligible for adoption.
With the capacity to take 100% of Dallas County child welfare cases, CASA continues to push toward a future where every child grows up in a safe, nurturing home.