2026-01-27T14:10:28-06:00 2025-03-31 271895149 Heveron & Company CPAs PLLC 260 Plymouth Avenue South Rochester NY 14608 990 2024-04-01 222296489 CASA of Rochester-Monroe County Inc CASA 5853713986 Hall of Justice Room 332 Rochester NY 14614 Maryellen Dance President 5853713986 2025-12-11 1 1 Stephanie Annunziata P00195472 5852322956 2025-12-11 2024 2025-03-06 01:10:19Z Maryellen Dance Hall of Justice Room 332 Rochester NY 14614 241736 0 X www.casarochester.org X 1980 NY To advocate for children who have been abused and/or neglected. 9 9 4 47 0 0 188339 230125 0 0 0 0 -2926 -848 185413 229277 0 0 0 0 169383 165211 0 0 22819 33006 40010 202389 205221 -16976 24056 81444 113142 15301 25750 66143 87392 X To train and supervise a diverse group of volunteers to advocate for children who have been abused and/or neglected. These children are at risk of being removed, or have been removed, from their homes. 0 0 149431 0 Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Rochester/Monroe County is a private, non-profit organization that trains and supervises a diverse group of volunteers to advocate for the best interests of children who have been neglected and abused. These children have been removed or are at risk of being removed from their homes. CASA's goal is that all children have a safe permanent home as soon as possible. Family Court judges assign a CASA volunteer to work on behalf of a child and family. Volunteers are trained to advocate for the best interests of the assigned children, and frequently facilitate access to additional services for them and their families. CASAs also report back to court information gathered on the children and their involved parents, identifying barriers and opportunities. (Continued on Schedule O)As advocates, CASAs strongly recommend the prioritization of resources for these vulnerable children and families to promote an equitable outcome.CASA is a single program and part of the National CASA model, meeting all standards. Our cases are assigned by the seven sitting Family Court Judges and in 2024 we engaged in significant marketing efforts to attract more CASA volunteers and visibility. We sought to rebuild the caseload we had experienced pre-pandemic. This past year we served 85 children in 33 families, half of the volume of 2 years prior. 80% of the children were served primarily by one of the 23 volunteer advocates. To grow the program, additional trained volunteers are needed with strong supervisory supports. These efforts to rebuild were confounded by the retirement of a long-term Executive Director in November of 2023, with a new ED who resigned in February 2024 and another new ED was brought on in April 2024 and has left one year later. The dedicated advocates and staff have continued to passionately pursue our mission serving the children. The advocacy work we do while the case is open has a substantial impact on the children and their families. About 69% of the families served by CASA of Rochester/Monroe County are ultimately reunified. In addition, 11% of the cases closed with a custody order to a relative or fictive kin. Remarkably, less than 1% of closed cases need to be reopened within two years. Accomplishments for the program include:- Increase in revenue through increased CASANYS Contract, Legislative member item grants focused on capacity and growth, a 3-year United Way Impact grant, and events.- An increase in visibility and active, targeted recruitment of a diverse group of advocates is critical to increased capacity. A Special Projects grant through CASANYS focused on recruitment and marketing including billboards, RTS bus-stop posters and related materials. We have seen an increase (50%) in the volunteer inquiries in the quarter following these efforts.- The Advocate Coordinator position has been vacant for the past year while leadership has been in transition. The program is actively recruiting for the position. Increased presence on social media and community-based events has boosted the interest in our volunteer opportunity. To grow the program, we must recruit, train and assign more advocates.- Additionally, there are non-advocate volunteers contributing their time and talents serving on our Board, committees, and at events.- The new National CASA Standards have resulted in updated policies and procedures. We also refreshed our training curriculum in addition to the three Flex Pre-Service training series each year as part of our retention plan and to meet standards.Some key NYS CASA Outcomes, which encompass those of Monroe County, include:- 95% of children received one or more services advocated for by CASA- 97% had their medical needs met, including 93% for mental health services- 92% of children who were in need of an IEP or 504 plan received the necessary services or parties were notified- 94% attended school at least 90% of the time or obstacles were identified/parties notifiedThis program is supported by grants and contributions. 149431 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 NY X The Organization 5853713986 Hall of Justice Room 332 Rochester NY 14614 Roger Awe Member 0.90 X 0 0 0 Elizabeth Escobar Secretary 1.20 X X 0 0 0 Heather Papietro Member 0.90 X 0 0 0 Maryellen Dance President 1.40 X X 0 0 0 Jennison Bielemeier Treasurer 1.20 X X 0 0 0 Sharon Scherer Member 0.90 X 0 0 0 Jessica Simonetti Member 0.90 X 0 0 0 Jessica LeDonne Member 0.90 X 0 0 0 Nikisha Ridgeway Member 0.90 X 0 0 0 Lara Graham Executive Director 40.00 X 40847 0 5484 40847 0 5484 0 0 0 0 0 9620 10965 164633 44907 230125 11611 10965 12459 -848 -848 229277 0 0 -848 61814 30907 18544 12363 91316 86393 2462 2461 1157 902 149 106 10924 8514 1409 1001 14668 4617 3163 6888 4725 4725 5782 5782 4390 4390 262 262 10183 7664 2519 205221 149431 32971 22819 43858 18337 37323 25323 69482 6161 6161 263 0 81444 113142 4001 6409 11300 19341 15301 25750 X 66143 87392 66143 87392 81444 113142 24056 -2807 0 X 1 X 0 1 0 X 167010 189462 138646 188339 230125 913582 5000 5000 5000 3333 3333 21666 172010 194462 143646 191672 233458 935248 35572 899676 12 12 16838 12280 9707 11611 50436 985696 0.91270 0.90090 X Schedule A, Part II, Line 10, Explanation of Other Income: Special Events Gross Income RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 6003 6003 0 158 158 0 0 Refundable Advance 19341 19341 Golf Tournament 22576 10965 11611 6750 4861 848 22576 10965 11611 6750 4861 848 12459 -848 Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 11b Form 990 will be reviewed in its entirety by the board before filing. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 12c The organization provides each officer and director with the conflict of interest policy when they are elected. The policy is also reviewed annually. If a potential conflict with any officer or director arises, the organization follows the conflict of interest policy and documents that in meeting minutes. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 15a Compensation for the Executive Director was reviewed during the board meeting. For 2024-2025, the Executive's salary was reviewed as part of the budgeting process and during changes in the position, due to increased levels of turnover in previous years. This had been kept level with previous years. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, line 19 The governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements are available upon request.