CASA/LA Brings Experienced International Development Executive Camrin Christensen On As New Volunteer Recruitment and Outreach Director

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Los Angeles has broadened its management team with the addition of new Volunteer Recruitment and Outreach Director Camrin Christensen. Camrin brings over ten years of intense international development experience to CASA, working with organizations in the South Caucasus.

Camrin began her career locally in Orange County, focusing on volunteer recruitment, monitoring and coordination at the University of California, Irvine and then at THINK Together, where she held the title of Volunteer Operations and Program Coordinator.

After leaving THINK Together, Camrin spent a year with a consultancy group before making a major life change when accepting a position as Development/Project Manager with Transparency International Georgia. There, she supported and led the design, implementation and evaluation of programs focused on promoting civic education and political participation, encouraging electoral reform and democratic development, and strengthening transparent and accountable governance systems in the country of Georgia. Staying abroad, Camrin then began work with Eurasia Partnership Foundation, overseeing their programmatic goals, including grant administration, and staff development. In 2014 she returned to the United States and accepted the Volunteer Recruitment and Outreach Director position with CASA/LA in January 2015.

“I strongly believe in CASA’s mission to improve the lives of children in the dependency system by pairing them with trained volunteer advocates,” said Christensen. “CASA’s approach is effective and leads to tangible results in the lives of children. I know how much I benefited from the support of the individuals around me as a young person (and continue to do so), and I want to be a part of the effort to provide that same support to children in foster care.”

Christensen continues, “While overseas for the last ten years, I led a number of programs focused on promoting civic education and political participation and strengthening transparency and accountability. My experience communicating with a variety of stakeholders, including community groups, grantees, donors, academic institutions, and policy makers will assist my work at CASA of Los Angeles for the benefit of children in foster care.”

“Camrin immediately struck me as the perfect candidate to fill this crucial position,” said Dilys Garcia, Executive Director of CASA/LA. “As we grow and look to greatly expand the number of children we help, we need someone who can handle a wide array of duties on a very high level. With all of her experience leading fundamental programs for large organizations, Ms. Christensen will be a vital team member for CASA moving forward.”

ABOUT CASA/LA
Founded in 1978, CASA of Los Angeles is a community-supported 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to mobilize community volunteers to advocate on behalf of abused and neglected children in the overburdened foster care system of Los Angeles County. CASA’s vision is of a Los Angeles where every foster child has an advocate and the opportunity to thrive. Through committed, highly trained everyday citizen volunteers, CASA brings the voice of a concerned community into the child welfare system. Studies have shown that children with CASAs receive more assistance and support than children without, and are more likely to be adopted or returned to their families and less likely to reenter the child welfare system. For more information, please visit the CASA of Los Angeles website: http://www.casala.org.