Additional funding could be coming for one local non-profit organization.

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Monroe promotes and supports court-appointed volunteer advocacy to represent the best interests of children who find themselves in the court system because of abuse or neglect. Since taking its first sibling case of three children in 2008, CASA Monroe has grown to advocate for nearly 400 children.

Unfortunately, due to funding, CASA Monroe is unable to help all the child who go through the juvenile court system in Monroe County.

"As a non-profit agency that relies primarily on donations, grants and fundraising, we are always looking for new avenues of sustainability," said CASA Monroe Executive Director Alisa Hobbs.

In 2011, there were 384 children served by the Monroe County Juvenile Court. Of those children, CASA Monroe was only able to serve 109 of them.

"This is unacceptable, not only to us at CASA Monroe, but also to the citizens of Monroe County," said Hobbs. "Our goal is to serve 100 percent of the children who come into the juvenile court system due to abuse or neglect."

But, a Tennessee State Law could create additional funds for the local organization.

Tennessee Code Annotated 40-24-109 provides that a county legislative body may elect to establish a Victims' Assistance Litigation Tax to assist victims of crime, their families and survivors by providing additional funding for an existing program established to assist victims.

"It has come to our attention that there is a Tennessee state law, which authorizes county governments to assess a $45 litigation tax to those who plead guilty or are found guilty of certain crimes," said Hobbs. "Of this amount, $42 goes into a fund for eligible non-profits and $3 goes back into the Circuit Court Clerk's fund."

See full story in the Sunday, Dec. 9, edition of The Advocate & Democrat.