CASA

I'm calling on YOU! If you have any time...any time at all to do any volunteering, please consider volunteering for CASA. If you don't have any time, please spread the word about CASA. CASA stands for: "Court Appointed Special Advocates." CASA is nation wide...it can be found in any state...any city. Quite honestly, I couldn't find an organization I believe in more. As a volunteer for CASA, you are appointed by a judge to advocate for a child in the foster care system. Once you are appointed by a judge you are assigned a single case in which you act as an advocate for the child involved in a foster care case. As the child's advocate you will develop a relationship with the child, do home visits at the child's foster home, supervise visits between the child and their birth parents, and you are called upon to testify in court on behalf of the child to voice how the child is really doing in the foster care system. How I look at it...you are the voice for this child...many times..the only voice for this child.

The foster care system is broken, and it is so very very sad. There are over 500,000 children in the foster care system in the United States today. There is no way that case workers can adequately represent each and everyone of these kids, they need help....and this is where CASA comes in. Can you imagine being a child in the foster care system? Most of us have no idea what it is like growing up without parents. Can you imagine how scary, confusing, and lonely it must be? Many are shuffled from one home to the next, living with one stranger after another. Unfortunately, foster care homes are not always a safe haven for a child..in fact, many are the exact opposite. This is an extremely sad reality. Being a CASA volunteer you have the chance to be that one constant in a child's life as they go through the foster care system...someone who is going to listen, is going to make sure they are in a safe foster care situation, and most importantly be their voice in court when vital decisions are being made. If I have tugged at any heart strings, and you are at all feeling called to even look more into this, please check out the CASA website: http://www.nationalcasa.org/. The website has more details but I encourage you to at least check out the video about what judges expect from CASA volunteers found at: http://www.nationalcasa.org/volunteer/community.html.

I know we are all busy, but if you have 10 hours a month to spare, you can seriously make a difference. Foster kids often times have bleak futures...the statistics of where foster kids end up (jail, homeless, etc.) is alarming. If you can't volunteer yourself, educate others on this opportunity. Post a link on your blogs, talk to your friends, do whatever you can to get the word out. CASA needs more volunteers. Right now...every 7 out of 13 foster kids get a CASA...but...all 13 need a CASA...so please... get the word out. We can make a difference..one kid at a time.