Appropriations Requests for : Michigan Court Appointed Special Advocates (Michigan CASA

1. Cosponsoring legislators:

No Cosponsors

Recipient Information

2. Intended legislatively directed spending item recipient:

Michigan Court Appointed Special Advocates (Michigan CASA

3. Physical address of legislatively directed spending item recipient and the intended location of the project or activity:

660 Cascade West Parkway Suite 65, Grand Rapids, MI 49546. CASA operates in 30 Michigan counties, including Wayne and Oakland

4. The recipient's employer identification number:

264653381

Funding Details

5. Requested amount of the legislatively directed spending item:

$2,500,000.00

6. What is the purpose and how does the legislatively directed spending item provide a public benefit that is an appropriate use of taxpayer money?

The funding will support Michigan CASA and its local programs by covering costs such as administration, marketing, volunteer recruitment, screening, and training, and will enable Michigan CASA to continue to bring CASA programs to new counties in Michigan. Children experiencing foster care are the most vulnerable children in the state and ensuring that these children have a well-trained and supported advocate is a crucial function of state government. The State of Michigan has recognized the valuable role CASA's play in the lives of children in foster care by codifying CASA's role and through generous funding in prior fiscal years. The requested funding provides a stable resource to both the state and local CASA organizations so that CASA programs and their volunteers can support Michigan's children in foster care can provide high-quality, best-interest advocacy to help ensure that children have their needs met, find timely permanency, and have the opportunity to thrive as they grow into adults

7. Has the legislatively directed spending item previously received or been awarded any of the following types of funding in the past 5 years?

✓ Yes: State Funding

Amount received: $10,000,000.00

8. Estimated time frame for completion of the legislatively directed spending item project:

This funding will be utilized in FY27 by the Michigan CASA state office as well as pass through funding to support 30 county programs around the state, including the 2 counties I represent.

Additional Information For Nonprofit Corporations

9. Is the recipient a nonprofit corporation?

Yes

4. Officers and active members on the board of directors:

Phil Minster, Chris Slater, Amy D’Aprile, Brenda Baker-Mbacke’, DiAnna Solomon, Phil Stark, Jason Braford, Barbara Hiemstra, Winston Hofer, Jeanne Barber, Emma Green, James Brach, Kyle Purdy

Certification By Sponsoring Legislator

• "I certify that my immediate family members, legislative staff members, and I have no direct or indirect pecuniary interest in the requested legislatively directed spending item."
• "I certify that the intended recipient of this legislatively directed spending item is not a for-profit entity."
• "I certify that the information in this form is true to the best of my knowledge."

Senator Mary Cavanagh