Pulaski County Commissioners Finalize Paperwork for CASA Grant

 

The Pulaski County Commissioners have signed off on funding arrangements for the county’s Court Appointed Special Advocates program. During last week’s meeting, it was explained that the county council has allocated $40,000 to the CASA program, and the state would provide more than $8,400 in grant funding.

But County Attorney Kevin Tankersley said in order to get that state grant, Auditor Laura Wheeler had to certify the existence of the local funding. “What the auditor is agreeing to is that these funds will be appropriated for the GAL [Guardian Ad Litem]/CASA program and be spent only on the GAL/CASA program, and then you’ll get your $8,400 grant,” Tankersley explained.

The commissioners formally gave their permission for Wheeler to sign the necessary paperwork. Pulaski County’s CASA program is run through the county’s circuit court. It’s made up of trained volunteers who help guide abused and neglected kids through the court system.