BATON ROUGE, LA — Louisiana CASA, a leading advocate for children in the state's foster care system, is proud to announce a transformative partnership with The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation. This collaboration aims to revolutionize child advocacy through the implementation of a groundbreaking five-year Data and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Initiative.
The $135,350 grant awarded by The Blue Cross Foundation will serve as a catalyst for Louisiana CASA's ambitious project, focusing on enhancing child well-being through a comprehensive revamping of the Child Well-Being Assessment. At the heart of this initiative is the integration of the new assessment tool into the Optima Software during the first year. This integration promises not only to streamline data collection but also to offer invaluable insights into volunteer retention and recruitment, ultimately fostering a more robust advocacy community. Louisiana CASA's Data and CQI Initiative aligns with its strategic plan, emphasizing Data Initiatives and Quality Improvement as key organizational goals. The organization is committed to leveraging this grant to set new standards in child advocacy, with a strong emphasis on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
Over the course of the five-year initiative, Louisiana CASA will conduct region-specific training sessions in the second and third years. These sessions will empower staff and volunteers with the necessary tools to maximize the impact of the new Child Well-Being Assessment, ensuring a consistent and data-driven approach across the organization. The fourth and fifth years of the initiative will focus on data-driven evaluations, allowing Louisiana CASA to adapt programs and allocate resources based on real outcomes. This rigorous approach ensures the continuous refinement of the Child Well-Being Assessment, reinforcing its long-term efficacy and relevance.
"We are thrilled to embark on this transformative journey with The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation," said Amanda Moody, Executive Director at Louisiana CASA. "This grant will empower us to enhance our child advocacy efforts, aligning with our commitment to the well-being of the children we serve. The integration of data-driven strategies, coupled with our emphasis on DEI, will set new standards for child advocacy."
“We are grateful to help empower CASA volunteers across the state with targeted tools for better case outcomes to support Louisiana’s children in the foster care system,” said Chloe Wiley, initiatives manager of the Blue Cross Foundation.
Louisiana CASA expresses gratitude to The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation for their visionary support, recognizing the foundation's commitment to making a lasting impact on the lives of children in foster care. The collaboration between these two organizations promises to be a beacon of innovation in the field of child advocacy, ushering in a new era of excellence and effectiveness.
Louisiana CASA is the statewide association representing a network of 18 local CASA programs serving all 64 parishes in the state. The mission is to ensure that every child in the foster care system has a trained, caring, and dedicated CASA volunteer by their side, advocating for their best interests.
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation works each day to improve the health and lives of Louisianans by empowering everyday people to do extraordinary good. By building and funding coalitions of friends, families, and neighbors, the Foundation hopes to build a healthier Louisiana, particularly for its children. The Foundation is funded solely by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, but is a separate 501 (c)(3) nonprofit entity.
Note to Editor: High-resolution images and additional information are available upon request. For media inquiries please contact Morgan Washington at mwashington@louisianacasa.org.