Two child-welfare programs in Richmond area to merge

Two child-abuse prevention organizations in the Richmond area are merging this month.

Greater Richmond SCAN (Stop Child Abuse Now) and Richmond CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) will become one entity after unanimous votes by their boards of directors.

CASA will now fall under the scope of SCAN, which oversees four programs, including the region's only Child Advocacy Center.

Greater Richmond SCAN Executive Director Jeanine Harper said the merger "of two like-minded and complementary organizations makes sense on so many levels. . . . Through this marriage, we think we can do a better job of being a stronger voice for children."

Founded in 1991, Greater Richmond SCAN is a nonprofit organization that deals with prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect.

The CASA program pairs volunteers with abused or neglected children. CASA was started in 1977 by a Washington state judge who saw an increase in the number of cases of child abuse and neglect. According to the National CASA Association, there are more than 900 local CASA programs nationwide, including programs in Richmond and Petersburg, as well as in the counties of Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover and Henrico.

Greater Richmond SCAN has 22 full-time staff members and about 250 volunteers, and CASA has five full-time staff members and about 60 volunteers. SCAN's annual operating budget is $773,000, which comes mainly from the private sector; CASA's budget is $254,000, most of which comes from state grant money and national CASA funding.

After the merger, SCAN will move to 103 E. Grace St., and CASA will move to Richmond's Oliver Hill Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.

Similar pairings of local SCAN/CASA groups exist elsewhere in the state, including Roanoke and Northern Virginia.

Greater Richmond SCAN serves hundreds of families each year from Richmond and the counties of Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico, but the merger affects only the Richmond CASA organization.

Contact Paige Mudd at (804) 649-6671 or .