August/September 2010
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Giving a Voice to Abused and Neglected Children Support CASA with A Basket of Hope by Pam Fortier 
I can strongly say that NO child in foster care should be without a CASA — not even one child. The process that these children go through, from family/life problems, state and court processes, and emotional and physical challenges is incredibly saddening and even close to crazy.- Sherry Aaby, former foster parent Each year, approximately 780,000 children in the US are caught up in the court and child welfare maze because they are unable to life safely at home. Imagine what it would be like to lose your parents because they can't — or won't — take care of you. Now, into these children's lives come dozens of strangers: police, foster parents, therapists, social workers, judges, lawyers, and more. Hopefully, one of these strangers is a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer. CASA is a state and federally mandated program. Volunteers are appointed by judges to watch over and advocate for abused and neglected children, to make sure they don't get lost in the overburdened legal and social service system. They stay with each case until it is closed and the child is placed in a safe, permanent home. For many abused children, their CASA volunteer will be the one constant adult presence — the one adult who cares only about them. Last year, 79 CASA volunteers advocated for 307 children in Central Oregon's tri-county area. These volunteers dedicated over 3,000 reported hours and 22,000 miles of driving to advocate for their CASA children. Sherry's foster child was fortunate to be appointed a CASA, and as a foster mom she found the CASA a huge resource. Sorting out the complicated issues surrounding her foster child was at times overwhelming for the family. The CASA checked in regularly, visited the child in various settings, watched how the child was doing, and tracked issues with the court and DHS. In 2006, the US Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General conducted an audit of the National CASA Association, as required by Congress. Highlights of the findings include: children with a CASA were substantially less likely to spend time in long-term foster care; when a CASA was involved in a case, both children and their parents were ordered by the court to receive more services; cases involving a CASA were more likely to be permanently closed than cases where a CASA was not involved; and children with a CASA were more likely to be adopted. Unfortunately, there are children in our system without a CASA due to lack of funding. As Sherry observed, "We have all stood back, with our so very valid reasons, and let the children be navigated though weighty life challenges without someone in just their corner. Yes, it does hurt when you get involved, and yes, I have cried as a foster mom. But I cry even now as I write this, knowing that there are children out there who just need someone to speak out for them — to be involved."
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