The unique one-on-one relationship that forms between the volunteer and dependent child is often the only stable, positive relationship the child has. In a world of cold social workers, attorneys, therapists and caregivers, it's the court appointed volunteer who is a consistent and caring friend and advocate for the child.
Volunteer advocates are a powerful voice for children, advising the court about what the child needs and wants. While providing emotional support and the stability and nurturing every child deserves, they make recommendations that are in the child's best interest.
IS THERE A NEED FOR CASA
On any given day many, many children will be removed from their parents' care and placed in out-of-home care due to abuse and/or neglect. Stripped of all that is familiar to them, so often separated from their siblings and without the support of their friends, they spend too much of their childhood being shuffled from group home to group home, foster placement to foster placement, having to adjust to new schools and new faces with every move.
The system designed to care for them and adequately provide for their future is overburdened with too many children. Social workers carry between 30 and 50 cases and each juvenile court judges are responsible for making life-changing decisions for minor children. Additionally, more than 87% of the children referred to CASA have been in the system for more than 6 months – and some much, much longer.
For those kids who “age-out” or emancipate from foster care at age 18, the outlook is quite bleak. National statistics reveal that within 18 months, 50% have not graduated from high school and are unemployed, a third end up in jail and a quarter become homeless. Additionally, children who have been abused are 38% more likely to commit violent crimes as adults and are about 33% more likely to abuse their own kids.
THE CASA DIFFERENCE
CASA volunteers are appointed to serve as advocates and mentors for abused children going through court proceedings. Unlike social workers, therapists, and attorneys who try to balance large caseloads and rarely have time to focus on a single child, CASA volunteers work with only one child at a time and often become that child's lifeline.
CASA volunteers can be the difference between success and failure in a child's life.
When in the middle of an abusive situation…just having someone to simply listen, encourage, guide or speak up for a child, can make a world of difference in their lives.
CASA volunteers can help these vulnerable children and teens to reach their full potential. Sometimes it is just allowing a child to feel cared about for the first time that makes so much difference in their lives.
Clearly, the combination of consistent mentoring and advocacy for a child's needs results in a much greater chance that these kids will achieve a bright and successful future.
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