What We Do
CASA for Children recruits, trains and coaches community volunteers who advocate on behalf of abused and neglected children in our community. CASA advocates visit with the children and their families and have access to everyone involved in the child's life. Armed with that information, the advocates write court reports directly to the family court judge with recommendations for services and resources that are in the child’s best interests.
CASA volunteers remain on each case, and advocate for each child until their case is resolved - either reunited with family, adopted, or placed with a relative. The number one priority for each child is to help ensure that they are living in a secure, safe home.
Why We Do it
When abuse or neglect forces a child from their home, their future is determined by what happens during the months or years that they spend in foster care and what actions occur on their behalf. Foster care creates difficulty and stress for children that can result in depression, anxiety and long-term, trauma-related challenges.
Research shows that only 50% of foster youth earn a high school diploma, only 2% go to college, and 51% of youth who age out of foster care are unemployed. At 21, foster youth leave the child welfare system, whether or not they have a permanent home. Without the guidance of a trusting adult, foster youth face barriers to resources and educational achievement. As a result, former foster youth can become unhoused (25%), uninsured (30%), and reliant on public assistance (30%).
The CASA volunteer is the coordinating collaborator, who helps connect the youth to services, aids in maintaining family connections, and helps the youth prepare for their future.
Ways to Contribute
How You Can Make a Difference