BERLIN, Md., November 13, 2011—Just a few hours a month working as a CASA volunteer will have major impact on the life of a child—and on your own.
Ever wish there was something you could do to help abused and neglected kids? We read the papers; hear the stories, of children in distress. Oftentimes, it’s true; we try to tune it out because we feel too powerless to help, to make a difference.
If you actually want to affect change, touch children in a meaningful way, there ‘s something you can do to make a big difference. Volunteer your time to CASA, short for Court Appointed Special Advocate Association.
The National CASA Association is a network of 955 programs that support volunteers to represent abused and neglected children in the courtroom and other settings. These children have come into the foster care system traumatized. While CASA volunteers can’t reverse the effects of the past damage, they can offer a stable adult presence who can help guide them through courts and foster care homes and hearings.
One of the most rewarding aspects of being a CASA volunteer is that you don’t bounce from case to case. Instead, the whole emphasis of the CASA program is to give some permanency to children who have never known it. By working with the same children through the process until their cases are closed and they are placed in a safe permanent home, volunteers and the children develop important bonds. For many abused children, their CASA volunteer will be the one constant adult presence in their lives.
Last year, more than 75,000 CASA volunteers helped about a quarter of a million children find permanent homes through their advocacy work.
CASA volunteers come from all walks of life. No prior experience with children is required. This is an unusual program, where people who want to contribute to improving the lives of kids can get involved in a hands-on way.
This work isn’t for dilettantes. The work is serious and demands attention to the details of each child’s case. All CASA volunteers undergo rigorous screening and training before they can actually practice.
Research conducted since CASA’s start in 1977 proves the program works. Children paired with CASA volunteers spend less time in long-term foster care, are less likely to re-enter care, and get more help while they are in the system.
What volunteer experience offers real life results more rewarding than that?
Next week The Red Thread will interview Bonnie Morro, a CASA volunteer, about her experiences.
Andrea is an adoptive mother and a journalist. She is at work on a book, "The Red Thread," a collection of stories told by families united through adoption. She is also owner of Media Branding International, a public relations/media consulting firm. Read more The Red Thread: An Adoptive Family Forum in The Communities at The Washington Times. She’s also the Food & Travel editor at The Communities at The Washington Times. Andrea can be found at Facebook @ and LinkedIn.
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