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A word about the recent “Failed to Death” articles
On behalf of the statewide network of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), our hearts go out to the families who have lost a child due to abuse or neglect.
Read MoreWe Can Do Better: Improving Educational Outcomes for Foster Youth
For many children, back-to-school season is a time of new opportunities: schedules to figure out, new teachers to get to know, friends to be made. Last week a neighbor of mine proudly showed off a photograph of our neighborhood children waiting with lots of smiles for the bus to pick them up. There’s a group…
Read MoreFostering Futures: Helping Older Youth Transition From Foster Care to Successful, Independent Adults
To help address the unique challenges faced by older foster youth, the National CASA Association has launched a program titled Fostering Futures. Each year, an estimated 25,000 young people between the ages of 16 to 21 are legally required to emancipate – or age out – from the foster care system. Aging out of foster…
Read MoreOver-medication a concern among foster kids
“I had nowhere to go. Like I was stuck. Like I couldn’t move. Like I felt like I was so drowsy, I couldn’t even wake up,” 15-year-old Sophia said of her medications. Sophia was taking about 12 pills daily, including Lithium and Adderall. Court Appointed Special Advocate Michelle Lobato became concerned about Sophia’s health and intervened…
Read More“Heard, valued, empowered, supported, respected, normal…”
… these are a few of the words foster youth use to describe how their CASA volunteer makes them feel as highlighted in this excerpt from National CASA CEO Michael Piraino’s annual State of CASA address. Michael shares thoughts about foster care reform and introduces a young man whose life was changed by his CASA volunteer.
Read MoreLeaving a Legacy: Michele Strub Heer & Jordan Strub
Supporting children is a passion for Michele Strub Heer, both now and in the future.
Read MoreKaren Hilborn: 24 Years of Outstanding Advocacy for Children
Karen Hilborn has been a compassionate advocate for children in Colorado Springs for 24 years, our longest-term volunteer. She has lifted the lives of more than 50 children as a CASA volunteer. Many of her cases would last three to five years. Despite the long hours and the commitment, Karen has never quit on a…
Read MoreCelebrating National Volunteer Week
National CASA Podcast Celebrating National Volunteer Week We don’t share the disturbing details of abuse/neglect cases we serve on due to rules confidentiality and out of respect for the children and families, but know that there are tragic and gut-wrenching things that happen to kids in our community and CASA volunteers are in the trenches…
Read MoreThe Dollars and Sense of CASA Volunteers
CASA volunteers save hundreds of millions of dollars in child welfare costs alone. The annual survey of CASA programs shows that children with CASA volunteers spend 7.5 months less in foster care than children in the general foster care population. It costs the federal government $3,250 per month to keep a child in the foster…
Read MoreCASA Strongly Opposes DHS Proposed Changes
In response to the March 3 Denver Post article “Colorado considers easing rules on child-abuse investigations” The Colorado Department of Human Services has proposed a change that would remove a rule requiring that county social workers automatically open an investigation if they receive three reports of child abuse or neglect within two years. As CASA…
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