The Business & Industry Association of New Hampshire (BIA) and Court Appointed Special Advocates of New Hampshire (CASA) announced a new partnership to provide greater exposure for CASA and its important work to protect the best interests of abused and neglected children in New Hampshire’s family courts.

CASA of NH is a statewide nonprofit that recruits, trains, and supervises volunteers, known as guardians ad litem (GAL), to advocate in New Hampshire’s courts on behalf of abused and neglected children. A GAL’s role is to help a child or children caught up in the court system, through no fault of their own, grow up in safe, permanent homes with loving families to raise them. GALs are appointed by the courts, usually through CASA of NH, to recommend solutions that are “in the best interests of a child.”

BIA is New Hampshire’s statewide chamber of commerce whose nonpartisan work primarily focuses on representing business interests at the State House with state legislators, the governor, and state regulators. BIA represents more than 400 leading employers in a variety of industries including manufacturing, technology, professional services, financial services, health care, hospitality and tourism, public utilities, higher education, insurance, and many others. Member firms employ 93,000 people throughout the state and contribute $4.5 billion annually to the state’s economy.

“Given our work ‘mixing it up’ in the state public policy arena, I’m pleased to share a softer, gentler side of BIA through our partnership with CASA of NH. Helping CASA recruit volunteer GALs and increase exposure for its important work allows BIA to play a modest role in addressing a critical, social need,” said BIA President Jim Roche, himself a CASA volunteer.

“We are grateful to have this unique opportunity to work with the BIA and the exposure it will provide CASA to such a tremendous network of businesses around the state,” said CASA of NH CEO & President Marty Sink. “We look forward to being able to share more about the amazing work of our CASA guardians ad litem and the ongoing need for more CASAs to support New Hampshire’s children.”

“For business leaders looking for meaningful volunteer work, who want to make a real and lasting difference in a child’s life, in ways that, frankly, the child may never know about or appreciate (but YOU will), this is it,” said Roche. “Marty Sink and her team at CASA of NH will train you, provide resources, and guide you in this endeavor. You don’t need to be an attorney. Most of us aren’t. You just need genuine interest, a caring heart, some of your time, good communication skills, and a desire to make this corner of our world a better place,” Roche concluded.

For information about becoming a CASA of NH guardian ad litem or supporting CASA’s work, visit www.casanh.org.

###