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Court Appointed Special Advocate Celebrates (CASA) 25 Years of Advocacy for Foster Youth in Prince George’s County

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/Prince George’s County recruits, trains, and supports community volunteers to advocate for children and youth who have experienced abuse and neglect and are involved in the foster care system. We proudly celebrate our 25th anniversary, marking a quarter-century of ensuring that children who have experienced abuse and neglect in Prince George’s County have a powerful, consistent voice in court and throughout their journey to safety and stability.

We invite community members and media to celebrate with us by attending a dessert social in our office on May 7, 2026 (CASA’s 25th Birthday), from 12-2pm. Click here to let us know you are coming or if you would like to set up a meeting with the Executive Director: https://forms.gle/WWsUY9s8YAzxM83Z8

Since our founding in February 1992, CASA/Prince George’s County has grown from a small, volunteer-driven program into a nationally recognized leader in child welfare advocacy, serving 150–200 children and young people each year. Over 25 years, CASA advocates have worked to disrupt cycles of abuse and poverty for over a thousand children to navigate complex court systems, reduce time in foster care, and improve overall stability.

As we look ahead, we are committed to expanding equitable, youth-informed advocacy so that no young person faces the transition to adulthood alone.

“I wish that every child in foster care could have a CASA. It really helps.” – Tim (Former Foster Youth)

A Legacy of Impact and Innovation

CASA/Prince George’s County’s 25-year history reflects both deep community roots and a willingness to lead system-level change. Key milestones include the launch of the Transition Aged Youth (TAY) Program; contributions to the Foster Care Bill of Rights and Model Court; national and state recognitions for diversity, volunteer excellence, and child welfare leadership; supporting the establishment of the YES Center for transition aged foster youth; and participation in the Thrive Prince George’s Guaranteed Income Program.

“CASA’s strength has always been its people- our volunteers, staff, partners, and supporters,” said John Greene, Board Chair of CASA/Prince George’s County. “For 25 years, this organization has shown what is possible when a community comes together to protect children’s best interests. As we celebrate this milestone, we are also setting our sights on the future- ensuring CASA has the resources and vision to meet growing needs with compassion and excellence.”

Looking to the Next 25 Years

As a part of our 25th anniversary, CASA/Prince George’s County has launched a year-long awareness and engagement campaign alongside strategic planning to scale impact, strengthen partnerships, and expand its continuum of care for current and former foster youth. Community investment remains critical to meeting increasing demand and sustaining high-quality advocacy.

“Celebrating 25 years is not just about looking back.” says Yolanda Johnson, CASA’s Executive Director. “It’s about committing ourselves to the next generation of children and young adults who deserve safety, stability, and opportunity.”

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CASA Seeks Board Members

Photo of members of CASA's leadership team

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/Prince George’s County is seeking volunteers to serve on its Board of Directors. By utilizing your business development, fundraising, management and finance skills and connections in the community; you will make a difference in the lives of children living in foster care due to abuse and neglect. Help further our goal to change these children’s stories by providing oversight and governance and by assisting with the fundraising and organizational development of this established non-profit.

We are currently seeking board members with finance, fundraising, and corporate relations expertise.

Organizational Priorities:
To focus our efforts and structure our short-term goals, the we are targeting key Strategic Priorities which include the following benchmarks:
1. Refresh the CASA brand and increase foster care awareness.
2. Reposition CASA as an attractive employer and partner to current and future staff, board and volunteer talent.
3. Ensure that CASA’s services are equitably aligned with the current demographics of foster care youth in Prince George’s County.
4. Adapt to a changing funding landscape.
5. Elevate CASA’s presence in Prince George’s County to strengthen partnership building.

As we prepare for our 25th anniversary in 2026, we have launched strategic planning and fundraising efforts that will contribute to our ultimate goal of serving every youth in need of a CASA volunteer.

For more information on joining our board, see our Board of Director page and complete a Board Member Nomination Form

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Meeting the Moment: Sustaining Advocacy for Foster Care Youth in Prince George’s County

photo of Executive Director, Yolanda Johnson

It remains an honor to serve as the Executive Director of Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/ Prince George’s County for the past two years. Thanks to all of you for being champions for CASA.

The impact of CASA/Prince George’s County is driven by the unwavering dedication of our volunteers to child advocacy. We currently have 132 volunteer advocates serving 142 youth. This represents approximately 40% of the total youth currently in care within the county. These compassionate volunteers juggle full-time jobs, families, and other responsibilities while selflessly providing a consistent, caring adult voice for young people navigating the complexities of out-of-home placement.

We proudly celebrate the one-year anniversary of our Thrive program, a groundbreaking initiative providing guaranteed income to former foster youth, offering a vital foundation for their independence and stability during their transition to adulthood. Through Thrive and our Fostering Opportunities Fund, we have distributed over half a million dollars to current and former foster youth. Read Julia’s story here: Spotlight: Julia – Strengthening Family Foundations Through Guaranteed Income — Greater Washington Community Foundation

We currently find ourselves in a moment shaped by significant shifts and an evolving landscape. For example, the Department of Justice recently terminated over 300 grant awards to include an award to the National CASA Association. The termination of this award has directly hindered our ability to access a specific grant that would have assisted us with sustaining resources and serving more children who urgently need an advocate. More about the grant termination and call to action: 📢 Network News: April 23, 2025 – Immediate Network Announcement.

While these changes present considerable challenges, they also highlight the urgency and importance of our mission. If you are seeking a meaningful way to get involved during this time, please consider  supporting our efforts to provide advocacy and resources to youth in foster care through:

  • Making a Donation or Starting a Fundraiser: Every contribution, regardless of size, directly empowers us to continue providing essential advocacy, continue to offer resources, and work towards serving more youth.
  • Becoming a Volunteer Advocate: If you have a few hours each month, we invite you to join our outstanding pool of volunteers through this link:  PG Casa – Change a Child’s Story
  • Spreading the Word: Raising awareness in our community about CASA and the critical needs of youth in foster care helps us connect with more potential volunteers and donors, enabling us to amplify our impact.

Your belief in our mission and your willingness to take action, whether through financial support, volunteering your time, or simply amplifying our message, are equally invaluable.

Thank you for your dedication and commitment to CASA/Prince George’s County.

With gratitude,
Yolanda Johnson
Executive Director, CASA/Prince George’s County

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CASA Welcomes New Board Chair John Greene and Executive Committee; Celebrates Outgoing Chair’s Judicial Appointment

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Prince George’s County is pleased to announce the appointment of John Greene as its new Board Chair, leading a dynamic new Executive Committee. This transition comes as the organization celebrates the distinguished service of outgoing Board Chair Bruce D. Edwards, Esq., who has been appointed as Magistrate Edwards to the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, Juvenile Family Division.

John Greene brings a wealth of leadership and strategic experience to CASA Prince George’s County. As the Director of Human Resources at URAC, Mr. Greene spearheads critical initiatives in strategy, talent acquisition, compliance, compensation, and employee relations. His extensive background includes senior-level human resources roles at prominent organizations such as Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, Banner and Witcoff, Ltd., The Human Rights Campaign, and the Independent Community Bankers of America. In these positions, Mr. Greene provided invaluable counsel to senior management on long-term planning and implemented strategic programs addressing vital areas like compensation, recruitment, training, benefits, and employee and labor relations.

Mr. Greene’s commitment to vulnerable youth extends beyond his professional life. He began his journey with CASA as a volunteer in 2006, directly assisting young people navigating the foster care system. His dedication led him to join the CASA Board of Directors in 2018, where he has been a steadfast advocate for the organization’s mission.

A proud native of Washingtonian, Mr. Greene holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Towson State University, as well as a master’s degree in human resources management and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland University College. He is also recognized as a senior certified human resources professional, holding both the SHRM-SCP designation from the Society of Human Resources Management and the SPHR certification from the Human Resources Certification Institute.

Beyond his professional and CASA involvement, Mr. Greene is an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, and currently leads the Pi Upsilon Lambda Charitable Foundation’s Youth Leadership Development Institute, further demonstrating his deep commitment to youth empowerment.

Joining Mr. Greene on the new Executive Committee are:
• Cedric Wilson, Board Vice-Chair – Vice President of Regional Operations Northeast at Amazon One Medical
• Zoe Cooper Thomas, Board Secretary – General Counsel, DC Department of Human Resources
• Theresa Pattara, JD/CPS, Board Treasurer – Tax and Public Affairs Executive

“With the guidance of our new Board Chair, John Greene, and our dedicated executive board, I am confident that CASA will continue to embrace innovation to strengthen our advocacy and services as we move towards our 25th anniversary in 2026!” – Yolanda Johnson, CASA Executive Director.

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CASA Featured on Aging Out Institute Podcast

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/Prince George’s County was featured on a recent podcast hosted by the Aging Out Institute (AOI). Executive Director, Yolanda Johnson and Transition Age Youth Case Supervisor, Cheryl Richards, spoke about CASA’s work to support youth preparing for adulthood after foster care and those who have already aged out.

Check out the podcast and learn more about CASA’s efforts to support Transition Aged Youth (TAY). Click here or find it wherever you listen to podcasts.

More News from AOI
CASA was also recently named one of eight winners of the 2024 Aging Out Institute (AOI) Awards Program.

The AOI Awards Program celebrates the positive impact and influence of organizations that work with youth who age out of foster care. The awards program supports AOI’s mission to identify and share award winners’ best practices with foster care professionals throughout the world.

“We are thrilled to be recognizing such wonderful organizations this year,” said Lynn Tonini, Founder and Executive Director of Aging Out Institute. “This is a peer-judged awards program as the winners from the 2023 AOI Awards Program served as judges this year. This judging model lends significant credibility to the selection of the winning organizations from all the applications we received. We are pleased to be able to support the winners’ programs and look forward to hearing how the funds were utilized to help youth aging out of care transition to adulthood successfully.”

This year’s panel of judges included experienced practitioners in the field of foster care throughout the country (Arizona, California, Maryland, Nevada, New York, and Ohio). After careful consideration, these judges selected the following organizations as the winners of the 2024 National Awards Program (by category and prize amount):

Small Organization or Program – Flame Award ($40K each)
Cleveland Angels (Cleveland, OH)
Finally Family Homes (Culver City, CA)
Olive Crest (Las Vegas, NV)
The Felix Organization (Locust Valley, NY)

Mid-Size or Large Organization or Program – Fire Award ($50K each)
City Living (New York, NY)
CASA/Prince George County (Riverdale, MD)
Good Samaritan Boys Ranch (Brighton, MO)

Youth Impact – Phoenix Award ($90K)
DFW Angels (Dallas, TX)

Yolanda Johnson, Executive Director of CASA said “Being selected for the Aging Out Institute Fire Award is an honor and a powerful testament to the relentless dedication of our staff, board members, and volunteers. This award strengthens our ability to elevate our brand to raise awareness about the needs of our young people and attract more volunteer advocates to help us disrupt the challenges faced by youth aging out of care.”

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Yolanda Johnson Celebrates First Anniversary as CASA Executive Director

photo of Executive Director, Yolanda Johnson

As we celebrate Yolanda Johnson’s one-year anniversary as the Executive Director of Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/Prince George’s County, take a moment to learn more about her experiences in her first year and her strategic priorities. With her wealth of experience and dedication to improving the lives of children and young people, Ms. Johnson is poised to lead CASA into a new era of impact and growth.

One-Year Reflections from CASA’s Executive Director: 

At CASA/Prince George’s County, we center our work around providing advocacy for the very best interest of the child. Over the past year, I’ve thought quite a bit about what this means. What does it look like to provide “best interest advocacy” for children?

Here is what I have concluded:

Best interest advocacy is peeling back the layers that often hinder children in foster care from thriving-unaddressed trauma; limited resources; unstable living conditions; or a lack of self-efficacy. Through our supportive partnerships with both the Prince George’s County Juvenile Court and Department of Social Services, I’ve watched our staff peel back those layers to expose our young people to endless possibilities such as therapeutic resources; educational supports; workforce readiness programs; crisis interventions; financial supports; and emancipation. I am grateful for CASA’s team members for their tireless commitment.

Best interest advocacy is volunteering your time as a community citizen to be an advocate for children experiencing foster care. At any given time each year, we have over 100 volunteer advocates who strengthen the voice of children at a time when they may feel like they have no voice. They know that our volunteers believe in them, which helps them to believe in themselves. This energizes me. I have an overwhelming feeling of gratitude whenever I think of our volunteer contribution.

I have met with many donors, partners, and potential partners. They are dynamic individuals and organizations that are committed to finding solutions and resources to ensure that youth experiencing foster care can succeed. This is collective impact; this is crucial to providing best interest advocacy for a child.

I want to highlight a few important accomplishments over the past year, based on our six strategic priorities:

  1. Refresh the CASA brand and increase foster care awareness.
  • We reignited and revamped our organization newsletter to over 2,000 contacts.
  • Invested in new headshots for staff to support a website refresher.
  1. Reposition CASA as an attractive employer and partner to current and future staff, board, and volunteer talent.
  • Enhanced our employee benefits package with two new CASA-supported benefits.
  • Re-engage volunteers through in-person activities post-pandemic to include a CASA supported appreciation event.
  • Created position of CASA’s first Chief Operating Officer to ensure an additional level of executive-level oversight of operations, development, and communications.
  1. Ensure that CASA’s services are equitably aligned with the current demographics of foster care youth in Prince George’s County.
  • Continued and explored new translation services for Spanish-speaking youth
  • Sought out and received funding to support 50 emancipated young people with guaranteed basic income to increase economic justice over a two-year period.
  1. Adapt to a changing funding landscape.
  • Sustained current funding relationships and established potential funding relationships to raise awareness about CASA/Prince George’s County and youth experiencing foster care.
  • Provided approximately $50,000 in financial support to young people who have touched foster care related to housing, living expenses, healthcare, or immigration support, through a fund supported by an anonymous donor.
  1. Elevate CASA’s presence in Prince George’s County to strengthen partnership building.
  • Launched “Breakfast with the ED” as a platform to engage partners and community leaders.
  • Joined the Prince George’s County Chamber of Commerce to form new partnerships and expand CASA’s reach.
  1. Develop and implement a DEI framework and plan.
  • Finalized a staff and volunteer assessment with an external consultant.
  • Executed a staff and board retreat to strengthen relationships.
  • Implemented ongoing DEI-related workshops.

I am humbled by everything that we have been able to accomplish within the past year and curious to discover unique approaches to catalyze this next chapter of CASA/Prince George’s County.

Thank you to the Board of Directors for choosing me and to my team of colleagues for supporting me on this journey.

Yolanda Johnson, Executive Director

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CASA/Prince George’s County Celebrates Legacy of our Founders

In late 2023 and early 2024 we lost two members of the CASA family who had an indelible impact on Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/Prince George’s County: Judge David Soukup, the founder of the CASA program, and Florence “Betsy” Burian, the founding Executive Director of the program in our jurisdiction. We are so grateful to these two individuals for the role they each played in building the foundation upon which we work every day to make a difference in the lives of children and youth in foster care.

Judge David W. Soukup, the founder of the court-appointed special advocate/volunteer guardian ad litem (CASA/GAL) movement, was a giant of a man in the CASA/GAL network and around court and child welfare innovation. When he started the first CASA program in King County (Seattle), Washington in 1977, the number of children in foster care topped half a million nationally and a new phrase, “foster care drift”, became a way to describe the increasingly long time many children spent in foster care.

Concerned over making decisions about abused and neglected children’s lives without sufficient information, Judge Soukup conceived the idea of using carefully screened and trained community volunteers to speak for the best interests of children in court. In 1977, he created a legacy that continues to flourish today throughout the country and with the dedicated efforts of almost 100,000 volunteers, serving nearly a quarter of a million children annually. Click here to read more about Judge Soukup and here to watch a video of him describing how he came to begin the first CASA program. 

Florence E. “Betsy” Burian was the founding Executive Director of CASA/Prince George’s County when it was initially incorporated in 1992. Along with a team of collaborative stakeholders, Betsy, oversaw the initial founding and incorporation of CASA in Prince George’s County and returned to champion the mission when we began full operations in 2001. She continued to be a supporter and ambassador for CASA throughout her life and we thank her for her dedication to making a difference in the lives of children. A special thanks to her family for their support of CASA/Prince George’s County to honor her legacy. Click here to read more about Betsy’s life and legacy.

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Court Appointed Special Advocate to Partner with Prince George’s County’s first Guaranteed Income Program

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is proud to announce that we will be a partner in Thrive Prince George’s, a two-year, $4 million guaranteed-income pilot that seeks to provide greater economic stability and mobility for families in the region. The program, which is spearheaded by the Greater Washington Community Foundation, Prince George’s County Executive and Council, and the Meyer Foundation, will provide monthly payments of $800 to 50 youth (age 18-24) who are aging out of foster care and 125+ seniors (age 60+) for a 24-month period with no strings attached and no requirements tied to employment.

“Studies have shown that modest guaranteed basic income pilots can decrease poverty by as much as 40%,” said Tonia Wellons, President and CEO of the Greater Washington Community Foundation. “We strongly believe that this program will improve the lives of many in Prince George’s County and will reduce the racial wealth gap in a way that makes it viable for the county to consider providing guaranteed basic income for years to come.”

While several pilots are currently operating around the region – including in Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, DC, and Montgomery County – this is the first guaranteed income program to exclusively serve residents of Prince George’s County. The $4 million pilot is funded using both public and private philanthropic resources, with participating partners each contributing $1 million to the program.

“This initiative is an innovative example of how we find solutions through public-private partnerships,” said Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks. “Thanks to this collaborative pilot program, we’re weaving a stronger social fabric and empowering people to pursue their aspirations with dignity and resilience.”

Guaranteed income programs have proven to be one of the most promising approaches to increasing financial stability. The positive impact of guaranteed income has been studied for decades, with evidence indicating that monthly cash payments can reduce income volatility and support recipients in attaining full-time employment, greater housing stability, improved health outcomes, and more.

“I’ve championed the guaranteed basic income program for years because I know it provides an opportunity to tackle poverty and create better quality of life for our residents,” said County Council Member Krystal Oriadha. “My hope is with more jurisdictions moving to implement programs like this, we will see an investment at the state and federal level that will allow these pilots to become permanent.”

The Community Foundation will administer the pilot program as part of its Together, We Prosper Campaign for Economic Justice, which is focused on investing in economic strategies that will increase economic mobility to help close the region’s racial wealth gap. In addition to Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/Prince George’s County, it has also partnered with United Communities Against Poverty (UCAP). Our organizations will lead the recruitment, selection, and onboarding of participants, distribute cash payments, and provide optional benefits counseling to ensure existing safety net services are not compromised by participation in this income-boosting pilot.

For more information about Thrive Prince George’s, visit www.thecommunityfoundation.org.

Please note that the application period has closed.

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FY20 Annual Report

Between July 2019 and June 2020 Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/Prince George’s County served over 200 youth in foster care despite the global pandemic. Our volunteers & staff are proud of the shifts we made to advocate for the best interest youth in care throughout the pandemic. Read more about our accomplishments in Fiscal Year 2020 in our Annual Report.

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CASA Introduces New Board President, Bruce D. Edwards, Esq.

image of new Board President

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/Prince George’s County is proud to announce the election of Bruce D. Edwards, Esq., as the newest President of its Board of Directors. A family attorney and exemplary community member of Prince George’s County, Edwards brings a legacy of service in child welfare and advocacy to the presidency.

In addition to his leadership as a CASA Board member, Edwards is an adjunct professor with Anne Arundel Community College and teaches courses on career readiness to inmate students at the Dorsey Run Correctional Institute in Jessup, MD. When he’s not teaching or working as an attorney, Edwards serves as a Commissioner with the Prince George’s County Commission on Fathers, Men, and Boys and leads a youth male mentorship program with Kappa Alpha Psi’s Kappa League.

Driven by his passion to build positive male influences for young men in Prince George’s County, Edwards came to CASA in 2013 with a personal mission to increase male presence in the child welfare system. “Having positive male representation is something many youths in this system are deprived of. That’s something that pushed me to say, ‘I have to be the change that I want to see’, and I knew I had to get involved,” he says.

Edwards accepts leadership of the Board of Directors at a critical moment for CASA. As a rapidly expanding nonprofit with the goal to advocate for all children in the county’s foster care system, CASA welcomes Edwards to the role as he works with the Board to advance the organization’s strategic plans.

Edwards’ election is a clear reflection of CASA’s current stage of growth: eager to take on the newest challenges presented by the pandemic where CASA’s mission and service is needed the most. Despite the uncertainty that many in the nonprofit sector currently face in their transitions to remote operations, Edwards’ vision for CASA entails clear advances in development, fundraising campaigns, and community engagement.

“One thing I really look forward to doing collectively with the Board is making this virtual format work for us and using this opportunity to collectively increase our visibility [and] funding. There’s so much room for us to be creative with our growth,” he says.

“Bruce’s extensive experience as a family attorney, community mentor, and CASA Board Member allows him to see firsthand the importance of CASA’s mission and the children we serve,” says CASA Executive Director, Ann Marie Binsner. “We are excited to move forward with his leadership as CASA continues to work towards our goal of serving all children in the foster care system.”

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About us

Change a Child’s Story

Children in foster care who have aCASA volunteer are more likely to succeed in school and adjust to change. And they’re half as likely to re-enter the foster care system later. By getting involved with CASA, you can make all the difference for a child who has experienced abuse or neglect in you community. Get involved, and change a child’s story.

Contact

Phone : (301) 209-0491
Email: staff@pgcasa.org

Address

6811 Kenilworth Avenue
Suite 402 Riverdale,
MD 20737
United States

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