Dear Friends,
In America, the concepts of government-run child welfare and foster care go back nearly 100 years, to the creation of the national Children’s Bureau in 1912. Over decades, there was increasing public attention to the needs of children and the role of foster care as a preference over the then-common institutional care (“orphanages”) for abused, abandoned, or neglected children.
But it was in 1988 that President Ronald Reagan issued the first presidential proclamation that established May as National Foster Care Month, a chance to spread awareness of the needs of these children and youth who usually enter foster care having dealt with major traumas. In age, they range from newborns up to age 21. Many have been abused and neglected and struggle to trust adults. Others are angry, confused, and without hope.
On any given day in the United States, there are more than 400,000 children living in foster care. Over the course of a year, nearly 700,000 children spend at least some time in foster care—in systems generally overseen by local county governments. If you were able to bring all these children together into one city, that city would be the 21st largest in the U.S. Right here in California, 83,000 children live in our foster care system – the largest such population in our nation. We must do better. These children and youth are part of our future, and we cannot abandon them.
On this day, the first ever National CASA/GAL Volunteers Day, we are launching our new State of the Heart newsletter. Our quarterly e-communication will share with you some of the accomplishments of our network of 44 CASA programs, located in California counties all the way from the redwood forests in the far north to the deserts of the far south, and everywhere in-between. The 700 north-to-south miles of our state pose a geographic challenge for California CASA, but we work hard to maintain close and productive relationships with all of our CASA programs. We offer training, support, legislative advocacy, and professional counsel on all aspects of running a high-quality CASA program. To learn more about our services, you can read our Impact Reports.
Every day, those in our network inspire me with their passion and commitment to the cause of CASA – the belief that Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteers, or “CASAs,” are one of the most effective and cost-efficient ways to ensure that a child in the dependency court system is heard, that their best interests are met, and that they find stability and permanency in their lives.
Thank you for your concern and compassion for all those young people living in California foster care, and for the heroic CASA volunteers who provide them a beacon of hope. With your help, CASAs are changing lives, every single day.
With warmest regards,
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Sharon M. Lawrence Esq., CEO, California CASA Association |
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Celebrating Our CASA Volunteers
During Foster Care Awareness Month
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Tuesday, May 18th will mark the first annual National CASA/GAL Volunteer's Day. All over the country, CASA volunteers make a difference, each and every day! A recognition of the occasion by Members of Congress will take place on the morning of May 18, followed by a culminating virtual celebration for all CASA/GAL volunteers at 7 p.m. ET.
If you know and would like to recognize a dedicated Court Appointed Special Advocate in your community, please tag them on social media on May 18, using the hashtags:
#CASAGALVolunteersDay
#FosterStrong
#ChangeAChildsStory
In California, there will be a double celebration of our CASA volunteers in May. The California State Legislature has declared May 28th CASA Appreciation Day!
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A Place in Our Heart: Making a Difference |
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Founded in 1956, the Zellerbach Family Foundation has been a leading grant maker in California’s Bay Area, helping to integrate new populations, lift up unheard voices, promote overlooked talent, and reform human service systems. The Foundation’s mission is to be a catalyst for constructive social change by initiating and investing in efforts that strengthen families and communities. |
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CASA of Kern County has opened a new clubhouse where children and volunteers can have a safe, comfortable place to meet. The space will be for advocates and the abused or neglected children in the juvenile court process whom they oversee. The space has lounge areas, a kitchen, children’s library, dress-up station, video game station, and a computer and resource room. |
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Today's Going to Be a Great Day
Because I'm Spending it With My CASA Volunteer
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We are excited to present our new animated video that shows the process of becoming a CASA volunteer and the impact CASAs have on children in the foster care system. "A Kid Like Me" tells the story from the point of view of a little girl who describes how it feels to be removed from her home, enter foster care, and experience the support of a CASA. |
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Interested in opening your heart to a foster child? |
CASA volunteers are recruited and trained by CASA programs in each county and are sworn in by a Juvenile Court judge. They fulfill a unique role to an abused and neglected child as they are one of the only adults who stay with them through their journey through the system. Find your local program here.
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