Is this issue worthy of my time and attention?
A child has a right to feel safe, loved and cared for. An undeniable right to learn and grow and become the person they are destined to be. To be treated as human beings, not possessions. To thrive.
In our society the stewardship of a child’s rights rest primarily with family. But too many families are in crisis, and too many children are lost in the process. Because of that, right now, nearly 425,000 children are separated from their families–a disturbingly disproportionate number of whom are Native American, Latino and African-American. Over the course of any year 700,000 children go through the child welfare system. A system full of well-intentioned people trying their best to place children in what is hoped will be better circumstances
But it is, after all, just a system–and an overtaxed one at that. In some counties 20 or 30 or even 90 cases of children in peril can come before a single judge before she’s halfway through her Monday. Too often a child can be placed in a different home from his sisters or brothers. Too often a single child can move to three or five or 15 foster homes in merely a matter of a year or two. Too often a child can languish for years without finding a stable home, only to ultimately “age out of the system.
Is there a solution to it?
Our solution to such injustice begins with a single volunteer. More than a mentor or a special buddy. This volunteer is a Court Appointed Special Advocate, a “CASA volunteer.” Someone specially trained to know what is in a child’s best interest, adn how to get those interests met by the system. Who knows who to help a child through this time of great vulnerability? A deeply committed adult. A person who will fight for this child, against all odds, against power, against bureaucracy and shortsighted agendas. Fight until that child understands that he has a right to believe in himself. Fight, until she can understand and advocate for her own inalienable rights. To live a life of destiny, rather than fate.
Why should I place my faith in you?
Today, more than 70,000 CASA/GAL volunteers are spread throughout 955 programs around the country. Because of CASA, more than 2 million children have found their way to a safe home. CASA is the only program of its kind. In the child welfare and family court systems, it was–and is–nothing short of a transformation. Everything is built around one child and one compassionate, highly-trained adult advocate for that child.
How will you use my support?
Right now, more than 65% of the children in the foster care and family court systems do not have a CASA/GAL volunteer to represent their best interests. That’s nearly a half million children who don’t have the kind of hope only a CASA volunteer can provide. And next year, there will still be half a million children lost. And the year after that. Too often until the child turns 18, and is to their own, often less-than-sufficient devices. These are not just statistics, theses are children’s lives. CASA is committed to a simple but powerful vision: helping to change the world for every abused and neglected child by 2020. To reach this vision, we pledge to fight on behalf of America’s children:
- until every court in the United States recognizes a CASA volunteer as essential for a successful outcome for children;
- until our volunteer base reflects the diversity and cultural makeup of children in the system;
- until every potential donor understands the importance of our mission, and places it at the top of their priority list;
- until every legislator and government official at the local, state and federal and tribal level understands the far-reaching results CASA can achieve, and places our work at the top of their agenda; and
- until every child can thrive in the safe embrace of a loving family.
How will we stay connected?
We will keep communicating about our progress in this fight, ensuring that you see precisely how your support ensures that CASA is able to make a difference in the lives of theses children when it matters most.
