The Connection Newsletter | June 2026 Edition

A Message From Our CEO, Amy Sugimoto

Greetings!

The June state budget deadline is fast approaching, and we find ourselves at a critical juncture in our fight to secure the future for thousands of vulnerable children across California. The next two weeks are absolutely pivotal in our efforts to ensure that $20 million for California CASA is reinstated in the state budget.

As you read this, legislative committees are engaged in closed-door meetings, making incredibly difficult decisions about the state's budget allocations. While we are fortunate to have many dedicated champions advocating tirelessly for our cause within the Capitol, the competition for state funds is fiercer than ever. To ensure that the urgent needs of children in foster care are not overlooked, it is absolutely crucial that our representatives hear directly from you—their constituents. A personal, heartfelt message from a passionate supporter like you can cut through the political noise and make a lasting impact. The more they hear from you, the more likely it is that our essential funding will be included in the final budget.

This isn't just a line item on a spreadsheet; these funds represent the very lifeblood of CASA programs throughout California. This funding is what allows us to recruit, meticulously train, and provide ongoing support to the thousands of dedicated CASA volunteers who serve as advocates for children and youth who have experienced abuse or neglect. It is what ensures that every child navigating the complexities of the foster care system has a consistent, caring adult in their corner to speak up for their best interests in court, in school, and in the community. Without this state funding, our capacity to serve these vulnerable young people will be severely compromised, leaving many without the powerful voice they so desperately need and deserve.

Your voice has the power to turn the tide. Here’s how you can take immediate, impactful action today:

Contact Your Representative: A personal phone call or a heartfelt letter to your local Assemblymember and State Senator is one of the most effective ways to make your voice heard. Sharing your personal story or connection to CASA can leave a lasting impression and highlight the human impact of this funding.

Amplify Our Message on Social Media: Share your connection to CASA or simply express your support online. Use your platform to educate your network about the urgency of this issue. A single post can ripple through your community and inspire others to join our advocacy efforts.

Email Your Member: Sending a direct message through your representative's official website is a formal and highly effective way to register your support. These communications are closely monitored by staff and help them gauge the priorities of their constituents

Reinstating this funding is absolutely vital to fulfilling our mission. It directly impacts our ability to ensure that children within the child welfare system receive the unwavering support and powerful advocacy they need not just to survive, but to thrive.

We are so grateful to those who have already taken action to help us secure this critical funding. Your dedication is the foundation of our work!

June is National Reunification Month

At CASA of Placer, Yuba & Sutter, our primary goal is family reunification whenever it is safe to do so. We take immense pride in the daily efforts of our family services program to safely bring families back together whenever possible. As one of the very few CASA programs in the United States offering comprehensive services that support the entire family unit, we are deeply proud of our track record, having successfully reunified hundreds of children and teens with their parents.

In 2024, nearly half (48%) of all California children who exited the foster care system returned home to their families [1]. This statistic highlights a crucial truth: reunification is the most common and desirable outcome.

However, reunification is a complex journey that demands incredible effort and dedication from everyone involved. It requires parents who are willing to commit to profound, sustained personal change. To support them on this path, our Parent Empowerment Program pairs parents with a dedicated mentor who walks alongside them as they navigate and complete their court-mandated case plans. This mentor offers invaluable support, consistent guidance, and a beacon of hope during a challenging time.

This journey also relies on the tireless work of caseworkers who must coordinate a web of services across multiple, often overlapping, systems. It depends on judges who meticulously weigh every piece of information to make life-altering decisions. And, critically, it depends on our CASA volunteers.

A CASA volunteer plays a unique and vital role. They are the one consistent, stable adult assigned to a child for the entire duration of their case. In a system filled with changing faces, the CASA is often the only person in the courtroom whose sole focus is the child's well-being. We get to know the children we serve on a personal level—we learn their fears, their dreams, their wants, and their needs. When a judge must decide whether a child can safely return to their family, the detailed reports and carefully considered recommendations from our CASA volunteers carry significant weight.

This month, we celebrate and honor the families who have successfully navigated this difficult path and reunited. We celebrate the children who have returned home and the dedicated advocates who stood by their side every step of the way. If you are moved by this mission and wish to support our work with these families and youth, please visit casaconnects.org to learn more about how you can make a difference.

[1] Children's Bureau: Child Welfare Outcomes Report Data

We Heal Through Relationships

A landmark study published in 2017 found something striking. Children who experienced significant childhood trauma but had strong support from families and communities fared better in adulthood than children who experienced little adversity but lacked those relationships. The relationship was the variable, not the trauma.

That finding shaped a framework now used by more than 100,000 health and social service providers worldwide. It's called HOPE, short for Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences, developed by Dr. Robert Sege at Tufts Medical Center. HOPE rests on four pillars children need to thrive: supportive relationships, safe environments, opportunities for emotional growth, and social engagement that builds belonging.

The numbers are hard to ignore. People who had the most positive childhood experiences were 72% less likely to suffer from poor mental health than those who had the fewest. More than 50 follow-up studies have linked these experiences to lower rates of cardiovascular disease, alcohol misuse, teen pregnancy, and recidivism. In 2024, the CDC distributed more than $5 million to local groups working to expand them.

This is the science behind every CASA case. A court-appointed advocate is, by definition, the safe and supportive adult relationship the research describes. For a foster youth, it is often the most consistent relationship in their week. CASA volunteers don't undo what already happened, and they don't fix the system. They show up. They listen. They follow through. That is the intervention.

As Dr. Pradeep Gidwani, who leads the San Diego chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, put it in the New York Times: "We heal through relationships. That's how we really make change."

Read the full article in the New York Times →

A Story from our Waitlist: Meet Iris

At CASA of Placer, Yuba, and Sutter Counties, 220 children are waiting for a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) to support them. To help you understand their backgrounds and why a CASA is so crucial in changing their futures, we will begin sharing their stories.

Names and ages have been changed to protect their privacy, but their stories are real.

Today, we'd like to introduce you to "Iris."

Iris is 12 years old. She has never been to school.

When Iris entered the child welfare system, investigators confirmed she had never been enrolled in school. No homeschool records existed either. The years that shape a child's reading, writing, and social development had passed without instruction.

Iris has been diagnosed with moderate to severe autism, but her mother never followed through on the Alta Regional services that would have connected her to critical support. At seven, Iris disclosed sexual abuse by her father. When child welfare finally investigated the home, her mother tested positive for substances. Mold and fruit flies had overrun the refrigerator and the home itself.

Iris has been failed by every adult who was supposed to protect her.

And right now, she does not have a CASA.

A Court Appointed Special Advocate is often the only consistent adult in a child's life while their case moves through the system. CASAs make sure a child's needs, educational, medical, developmental, and emotional, reach the people making decisions about them. For a child who cannot easily speak for herself, a CASA becomes the steady voice in the room.

Iris is one of 220 children on our waitlist across Placer, Yuba, and Sutter counties.

If you've ever wondered whether one person can change the direction of a child's life, this is your answer. Becoming a CASA is one of the most direct ways to do it.

Apply To Become a CASA

Save the Date: Bite Nite

This year, Bite Nite is taking you on a trip back in time to the sun-drenched, opulent world of 1960s Palm Royale. Get ready for a groovy evening and an unforgettable culinary experience featuring creations from 20 of the finest local restaurants in the region.

Your all-inclusive ticket is your passport to an evening filled with the best food in town, refreshing cocktails, and out-of-sight entertainment. Mingle and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere as you sample a diverse array of gourmet bites. The festivities will also include a fabulous silent auction, a thrilling live auction with exclusive items, and a raffle with incredible prizes up for grabs.

A live DJ will be spinning the platters that matter, so be sure to bring your dancing shoes for a night of movin' and groovin' under the stars. It's the perfect opportunity to indulge, socialize, and support foster youth.

Don't be a square—secure your spot at the social event of the season! Grab your early bird tickets today for a spectacular night of fine dining, fantastic fun, and philanthropy.

📅 September 25, 2026 | 5:00 – 10:00 PM

📍 Rocklin Event Center | 2650 Sunset Blvd, Rocklin, CA

🎟️ Click HERE to purchase at the early bird rate

Volunteer Spotlight

Honoring CASA Ursula Wiley

For nearly ten years, Ursula has stood beside families navigating some of the hardest seasons of their lives. As a volunteer working with parents in Family Services, she has built a reputation for showing up with patience, steadiness, and genuine care, qualities that have made a real difference for the families she has mentored toward reunification with their children.

What sets Ursula apart is her ability to meet people exactly where they are, without judgment. She creates space for parents to feel heard, valued, and capable of change. She understands that every family's path looks different, and she takes the time to build trust, offer guidance, and recognize progress at every step, no matter how small.

One family especially reflects the impact of her work. Ursula walked alongside two parents who were navigating substance use, homelessness, and the long road back to their children. Throughout their journey, she remained a constant. She was there as they strengthened their recovery, rebuilt healthy supports, found employment, and secured permanent housing. Her belief in their ability to succeed helped them keep moving forward, even in the hardest moments.

Today, those parents are reunited with their children and living healthier, more stable lives. Their dedication created the change, and Ursula's steady presence reminded them they were never doing it alone.

Ursula's influence reaches far beyond any one case. She brings warmth, empathy, and dedication into every interaction, leaving families feeling stronger for having known her. We are deeply grateful for the hours, the care, and the heart she has given over the years. It is an honor to recognize Ursula and the lasting difference she continues to make in the lives of children and families across our community.

Youth Art Display

What Brings You Joy?

This summer, our offices are filled with something beautiful.

The Joy Gallery is a collection of original artwork created by the youth CASA of Placer, Yuba & Sutter advocates serve, each piece responding to a single prompt:

What brings you joy?

Working alongside their advocates, youth painted and drew their answers on paper, in whatever colors, textures, and images felt right to them. The results are on display now at our Placer office through June, and will travel to our Yuba/Sutter office for the month of July.

Every piece in this gallery is a reminder of what our advocates make possible: moments of creativity, connection, and joy in the lives of children who deserve all three.

Stop by and take a look.

Our Mission Blooms Because of You

On May 28th, we celebrated our CASAs

Every child we serve has a story. And behind that story is a CASA volunteer who chose to show up — who said yes, and kept saying yes.

This spring, we paused to celebrate that commitment. Our volunteer appreciation party brought together the advocates, supporters, and community members who make this work possible. It was an evening of gratitude, connection, and a reminder of why we do what we do.

Across Placer, Yuba, and Sutter counties, our CASA volunteers logged 18,536 hours in 2025, serving 573 children and 221 families. Those numbers represent real people — children and parents who now have a consistent, caring adult in their corner because someone in our community raised their hand.

But what our volunteers give goes beyond hours and case numbers. It shows up in a remembered birthday. In a court hearing where a child finally has someone speaking only for them. In the simple, radical act of being there next week, and the week after that.

To every volunteer who attended, and to every advocate currently walking alongside a child: thank you.

Our mission blooms because of you.

Continuing Education

1️⃣ LGBTQ101

Join us for a beginner-friendly training where we'll cover the basics of LGBTQ+ identities, terminology, and inclusive language. We'll explore how to use respectful communication including pronouns and discuss how to show up as a supportive, affirming volunteer for the people we serve. No prior knowledge needed, just an open mind!

June 11th, 5:30 PM – 7 PM

Yuba City Office: 1634 Poole Blvd, Suite 200

2️⃣ Dependency Legal Services Panel

David Moghissi (Dependency Attorney), Renae Garcia (DLS Social Worker), and Kristi Varnum (Peer Specialist Lead) will walk us through DLS's work across Northern California, with a focus on Placer County. They'll cover who DLS serves, how the dependency process unfolds, and what parents and children experience after a child is removed from the home.

June 18th, 5 PM – 6:30 PM

Roseville Office: 1430 Blue Oaks Blvd, Suite 260

Resistance & Radical Healing: Support BIPOC Youth Healing from Traumatic Stress

📅 June 3, 2026 | 12:00 – 1:30 PM

California CASA is hosting a free 90-minute webinar open to all CASA volunteers and staff. It's a practical session you can bring straight into your work with the youth on your caseload.

You'll explore the effects of racial trauma, ways to support self-regulation and resilience, and healing-centered approaches grounded in Bruce Perry's Neurosequential model, cultural identity, and community resources.

Your speaker is Crystal Bennett, LCSW: an educator, advocate, survivor, and self-proclaimed thriver whose 25 years of work draw on both clinical expertise and lived experience.

Can't attend live?

The session will be recorded and posted to the California CASA Academy.

Wear Your Why: The CASA Gear Shop

Looking for a way to show your support for foster youth, at-risk teens, and families in crisis? The CASA Gear Shop has you covered.

Shop the CASA Gear Shop

Help Is Available: Community Assistance Programs

Families facing financial strain, food insecurity, or other challenges can find help through local assistance programs. This resource lists trusted community partners offering food, medical and dental care, utilities, housing, and family support services — with eligibility information and direct links to get you connected quickly.

Volunteer Resource: Free & Low-Cost Activities

Looking for budget-friendly ways in Placer County to connect with your CASA youth or family in May?

Click HERE for some simple ideas.

State funding cuts have created a waitlist for CASA services, and we need your help to change that. Monthly giving is one of the most powerful ways to ensure foster youth and at-risk children get the support they need, when they need it.

What We Do

Every program is built on one belief: connection changes lives.

We offer programs to advocate for children in crisis, strengthen families, and create lasting change — including CASA advocacy, Be Bold mentorship, Family Services, K9s 4 Kids therapy dogs, the CASA Store, and Extracurricular Activity Grants.