Statistics

Abuse in the U.S.

In 2008, approximately 12,000 calls were made to CPS in Kent County resulting in 411 removals of children from their homes.
In 2006, CASA of Kent County was able to serve 199 children. However, most of those served had cases beginning in 2005 or, in many cases, earlier.
Eleven of every thousand children in Michigan are in foster care.
While 3 million reports of child abuse are reported in the U.S. each year, experts estimate that the actual number of incidents is three times higher than reported (1)
Nationally, a report of child abuse is made every 10 seconds (1)
Child abuse occurs at every socio-economic level, across ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions, and at all levels of education (1)
36.7% of all women in prison and 14.4% of all men in prison admit to being abused as children
Between 2004 and 2005 there was a 49% increase in removals of children by Child Protective Services (CPS) from unsafe situations in Kent County (2)

The average cost for CASA to advocate for one child for one year is $1,000.
Each year Kent County CASA volunteers donate over 8,000 total hours of service. Calculated at a value of $15 per hour, this represents an annual contribution of at least $120,000.
CASA is the only local volunteer organization that empowers everyday citizens to become appointed members of the Kent County court system in order to act on behalf of abused or neglected children
Children with a CASA volunteer are substantially less likely to spend time in long-term foster care (defined as more than three years in care – 13.3% compared to 27%).
CASA is effective in identifying the needs of children and parents as shown by CASA cases having more court-ordered services involved.
CASA cases are twice as likely to become permanently closed – with the child not reentering the child welfare system.
CASA volunteers spend significantly more time in contact with a child than a LGAL (lawyer guardian ad litem).
A child with a CASA volunteer is more likely to be adopted (and just as likely as a child without CASA services to be returned to his or her biological parents).