From Texas Jewish Post:
Rhoda Bernstein looks back in amazement at the fact that she was able to spearhead the arrival of the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program to Tarrant County 40 years ago.
“I always say it’s the best thing I ever did,” said Bernstein, a lifelong Fort Worthian and member of Congregation Ahavath Sholom who has a background in counseling. “It’s an amazing legacy and it’s very meaningful to this day to think about all of the kids who were helped through the organization. I was at the right place at the right time. I had no idea of the impact it would make.”
Bernstein spoke at a CASA 40th anniversary event on Sept. 14 at River Ranch Stockyards in Fort Worth. The event celebrated four decades of providing safety, permanency and healing for children.
Back in 1983, Bernstein did an interview with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in which she pleaded for prospective volunteers. The caption under her photo even read “looking for help.”
At the time, Tarrant County had 260 children in foster care.
As of last year, Tarrant County CASA’s 579 volunteers served 1,098 children, only 65% of the estimated 1,652 children who were in need of the organization; 43% of the children served are 5 years old or younger.