A Typical Situation
For children whose lives have been disrupted by neglect and abuse, the child welfare system is a maze of court dates, foster homes, and a stream of overloaded caseworkers. Though they are assigned professionals like case managers and attorneys – all of which have the best intention of trying to repair the effects of complex and tragic events – these children often feel confused, frightened, and isolated. They may move from foster home to foster home, having to adjust to new “parents,” schools, classmates, churches, and doctors every few months. Sometimes they are separated from their siblings and see them infrequently. While many children are resilient, those who suffered severe abuse may have emotional, behavioral, developmental, or health problems and lack desperately needed services and treatments.
Far reaching effects
Children who have been involved in the system are at risk of giving up on adults and feeling abandoned. They are susceptible to making unfortunate decisions and are at high risk for ending up in Family Court as delinquents or in jail as adults. Statistically, those who were abused and neglected as children grow up to have lower reading ability, higher rates of unemployment, lower paying jobs, and higher rates of suicide than those who grew up in safe, secure homes. The future costs to the individual, the legal system, and greater society are beyond calculation.
How CASA helps
CASA – Court Appointed Special Advocates – exists to make sure the abuse and neglect these children suffered at home does not continue at the hands of the overburdened family court system. As a trained advocate, a judge appointed CASA volunteer builds a relationship with their assigned child in order to be a voice for that child in court. Volunteers meet regularly with their assigned children, make observations, ask questions, seek information, and constantly advocate for their “CASA kids” in foster homes, at school, and with caseworkers, physicians, therapists, and lawyers. CASA volunteers supplement the work of professionals, often serving as the only constant in very turbulent lives. The ultimate goal is to have each child placed in a safe, permanent, nurturing home where he or she may grow and thrive.