Hispanic Heritage Month 2014 Media Release Template
Fill in or delete all highlighted areas. Copy and paste the text into the body of an email to your
local media. If you need assistance identifying your local media, please contact the Texas CASA
Training & Communications Department. Please send a link or PDF of any coverage you get.
Good luck!
For Immediate Release
Date
Contact:
First name, last name and title
Phone (xxx) xxx-xxxx
Email xxxxxxx
[Your Program Name] Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, [Your program name] is recognizing Hispanic and Latin
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteers for their work in changing the lives of
children in the child welfare system.
Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 to October 15, is a time to celebrate the history and
culture of the Hispanic community. But for Hispanic children in the child welfare system,
exploring their culture can be a challenge, especially when they are placed with families that do
not share the same traditions.
“It’s already frightening for a child to be removed from his or her home and to be placed in an
unfamiliar setting,” said [executive director’s name], executive director of [your program name].
“It can be even more frightening when the child is placed with people who don’t speak the same
language or share the child’s culture.”
[Your program name] strives to advocate and speak up in the courts for the best interest of the
children they serve. Oftentimes, CASA volunteers are the only consistent person in the child’s
life.
“A shared heritage can serve as a foundation for fostering trust between CASA volunteers and
the children they serve,” said [executive director’s last name].“It’s important for volunteers to
reflect the race and culture of the children they serve because children are more likely to connect
with people who share their customs.”
While the program is seeking volunteers of all demographics, Hispanic and bilingual volunteers
are needed due to the increasing number of Hispanic children in the child welfare system. Of the
more than 66,000 confirmed child abuse or neglect victims in Texas last year, more than 30,000
were Hispanic.
[Provide an example of a Hispanic/bilingual volunteer who has served a successful case and how
their background helped them when interacting with their CASA child. For example:
[Hispanic/Bilingual] CASA volunteer John Smith has been donating his time for three years. His
advocacy has helped three foster care children safely return to their families/find safe families
and homes/etc. Smith was able to utilize his Spanish-speaking skills to easily communicate with
his CASA child…..etc.]
[“Quote from the volunteer,” said [volunteer last name]. “Additional quote from volunteer.”]
CASA volunteers are specially trained to become involved in a child’s or sibling group’s lives
and be a voice for them in court. Volunteers dedicate their time to understand the children’s
physical, emotional and educational needs in order to make informed recommendations to the
judge overseeing the case.
“As you reflect on Hispanic Heritage Month, consider the impact you can make in the life of a
child in the foster care system who needs somebody to advocate for them,” said [ED last name].
For more information about becoming a CASA volunteer, visit [your program website] and
www.BecomeACASA.org. The next information/training session is [time/date/place].
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