The Junior League of Boise (JLB) is excited to partner with Family Advocates for the second year of our 10-year effort to honor our past projects, called Project 100. True to the purpose of Project 100, we are reminded of the history of our work with Family Advocates as we partner with them from June of 2019 to May of 2020.
History
Our Project 100 Commitment to Family Advocates!
As part of the Project 100 partnership, the Junior League of Boise will donate $10,000 to Family Advocates to expand its Family Strengthening Program. This donation provides 50 scholarships to the Boys & Girls Club of Ada County and 47 weeks of food to the program.
Family Advocates
Family Advocates became official in 1978 after two foster families saw the need to end child abuse in Idaho.
The Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program started in 1980 when Family Advocates, the Junior League of Boise, and the Boise Bar Association were approved to start a Guardian ad Litem program in Ada County. CASA volunteers are members of the community who are trained “to investigate child abuse, neglect, and abandonment and then advocate for those children in court.”
CASA took its first referral in 1982. In 1986, Family Advocates worked with the Idaho Legislature to clearly define the Guardian ad Litem role in the revised Child Protection Act. CASA serves Ada, Boise, Elmore, and Valley counties.
Today, Family Advocates focuses on eliminating child abuse by building healthy families. The goal of the Family Strengthening Program is to form strong and healthy families where child abuse does not exist. The program helps parents and children build healthy habits through classes and activities.
For more information on Family Advocates and ways to get involved, please visit https://www.familyadvocates.org/.