Piedmont CASA – Bridges to Success for Older Youth in Foster Care. Piedmont CASA provides trained volunteers and professional staff to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children and youth, promoting and supporting safe, permanent, and nurturing homes for these victims in the child welfare system, the community, and before the courts of the 16th Judicial District of Virginia. CASA is requesting funds for travel expenses for coaches in their Bridges to Success for Older Youth in Foster Care program. The program is designed to help older youth in our community heal and develop the skills, connections, and tools they need to lead safe and productive adult lives. Older youth in foster care need the most support and need to learn the skills of ordinary day-to-day living before they age out of the system so they can be successful and not just survive. The Bridges Coaches provide the mentoring and guidance the youth need to move into independent lives that are safe, healthy, and productive. The Coaches transport their clients to all areas involved in their life and are like interim family, helping them navigate the world. The travel funds requested would provide support for the coaches of 15 young women whose ages range from 13 to 21.

Gwen Jones and Leah Cole,
Piedmont CASA Bridges Coaches