Children's advocates from all over the state, including the Lufkin area, went to Austin earlier this month to speak out against potential budget cuts to their program.

Five volunteers, staff and board members from CASA of the Pines joined more than 300 children’s advocates at the Capitol to speak up for children in the foster care system, according to a press release.

CASA of the Pines Executive Director Natalie Thornton said the current budget recommendation from the Texas House of Representatives would cut $467 million from the CASA agency, which is “already overburdened and underfunded.”

Last year, nearly 43,000 children were in the custody of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services because of evidence of abuse and neglect. That number could grow by 20 percent in the next three years, the release stated.

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