Portland, OR. The Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Children has faced challenges moving its services online but continues to advocate for foster children in the courtroom. One silver lining is that online orientations due to the pandemic have unexpectedly helped the organization recruit younger volunteers. CASA Executive Director Betsy Stark Miller explains that there was some initial concern that recruiting CASA volunteers online, instead of in-person, would be an issue, but it has had unforeseen benefits. “I have watched the age demographic drop,” she said. “This is great because having a young CASA advocate is very beneficial if you are working with teenage or preteen youth.”
Before this change, most volunteers were 50 to 60-year-old women. Now, they are seeing volunteers in their 20’s.
Anyone can be a CASA volunteer. They train for 35 hours before taking on their first case. Then, work under a supervisor.
Along with diversifying the age range, CASA for Children has been working to be more culturally responsive. Many kids in foster care are Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC), while the vast majority of CASAs are white and may have a socioeconomic situation that enables them to do highly time-intensive volunteer work. Miller and her associate Laura Collins (Major Gifts, Development & Communications Director) said that CASA’s “Knowing Who We Are” training helps volunteers recognize their own social positioning in order to help them better assist kids who come from different backgrounds. “I think the community needs to know that we are doing everything we can by training our CASAs and our staff to be culturally sensitive and responsive to the kids that disproportionately come into foster care who are children of color,” Collins said.
CASA for Children’s social awareness training helps mitigate the racial divide that often occurs between advocates and clients.
CASA for Children already had a remote plan prepared when the pandemic hit, and fortunately has been able to keep all staff supervisors employed. However, Major Gifts, Development & Communications Director Laura Collins said that virtual interaction is not ideal for CASA volunteers and their clients. One CASA said that it’s challenging to not be more physically present with the kids. “It really speaks to the commitment these CASAs have to this program,” Collins said. “We are still able to successfully provide really high-quality advocacy to the kids who have CASAs right now.”
Many volunteers are even taking on a second case. “The thing that’s been really powerful is our team is experiencing that emotional commitment,” Miller said. “What’s been really impressive to me, and overwhelmingly uplifting, is that our CASAs have stuck through this really difficult time. Our CASAs would not stay if our team was not doing a wonderful job, because it’s not easy.”
COVID-19 has made some things more difficult. In many cases, hearings have been postponed due to technical difficulties. This takes a major toll on the kids and their families. Courts are backlogged in Washington and Multnomah counties. “With COVID in place I am really concerned that we’re gonna see cases last longer than they should,” Miller said. Miller and Collins also said that going into the future, they expect to see an increase in the number of kids who need their services. During pandemic restrictions, domestic abuse is still happening, but kids aren’t leaving home as much, which allows it to stay hidden.
“Children aren’t going out and getting their voices heard,” Miller said. “They’re showing up in emergency rooms with more severe abuse markers than doctors have seen in recent history.” As abused kids return to school and life outside the home, mandatory reporting will expose these cases and the kids will turn to services like CASA as they go through the foster care system.
Children in the foster care system without permanent living arrangements need community support during the pandemic more than ever.
CASA for Children was able to move its annual auction online to maintain some revenue, but the nonprofit still needs support from the community during this time.
“We really need the support of our community to still step up and help us,” Collins said. “Sure we are in the foster care sector, but really were about healing and resiliency. We’ve always been about that, it’s at the core of our mission, helping kids who have gone through profound trauma heal and hopefully have a better chance of a life that has potential.”
Here’s a video about the organization:
From CASA for Children:
A CASA is the tireless and passionate protector of a child who has been abused or neglected and is experiencing the trauma of involvement in the system. They are granted tremendous authority by the court and are able to do what it takes to see that a child is not ignored, their best interests and critical needs are addressed, and that the presiding judge is able to understand the true facts of a child’s condition in an over-burdened child welfare system.CASAs are in a unique position to work in the system without being of the system. Throughout the process, CASAs have permission to visit the children regularly, talk to a child’s parents, teachers, caseworkers, doctors and therapists in order to hear all perspectives and give an unbiased portrayal of the case to the judge. CASA advocates help kids through the system safely, quickly, and more effectively.
Portland, OR. CASA for Children of Multnomah, Washington, and Columbia Counties hosted its 28th Annual Auction: Here Comes the Sun, at the Portland Art Museum on April 5th. The evening’s presenting sponsor was Fred Meyer, and the event raised more than $701,000 in support of CASA’s mission to advocate for the rights, safety, and well-being of abused and neglected children who are under the protection of the courts. This is CASA’s largest single source of fundraising revenue. (Photo credit, Colson Griffith)
Auctioneer Dale Johannes gets the crowd bidding.
Kiersten & her CASA, Cindy, share their story with guests.
The honorary guests included a young woman named Kiersten and her CASA Cindy. Cindy provided support and guidance to Kiersten during her tumultuous pre-teen years through her successful adoption as a teenager, and beyond as she graduated from PSU. This touching story moved the evening’s guests to raise their paddles during the special appeal, which raised over $310,000.
From CASA:
CASA greatly appreciates the generosity of each attendee, and would also like to thank Anna Maria Savinar and Dale Johannes, the auction’s emcee and auctioneer. The event’s success would not have been possible without them.
All proceeds raised from the auction directly impact CASA for Children’s ability to serve more children with a CASA volunteer. A CASA passionately and tirelessly works to guide a child through the trauma of the court system. Oregon law gives CASAs unusual authority as a ‘party to the case’ so that they are able to ensure that the system does not ignore a child’s needs and that the judge has the information to act in the child’s best interests. A CASA is trained to work with judges, social workers, teachers, foster parents, and family members to guarantee that the safety and well-being of the child is front and center. This annual auction ensures the continuation of CASA’s advocacy work on behalf of our community’s foster children.
Sherwood, OR. The lawn at Ponzi Vineyard was filled with about 300 CASA supporters for a benefit concert with Storm Large. The sunset event on August 27th featured a gourmet picnic dinner by Dundee Bistro and complimentary glasses of Ponzi wine, as well as, a shuttle bus to and from Portland.
The weather was picture perfect this year. Last year, the sold-out benefit concert hosted 300 guests and brought in over $46,000 in support of CASA’s mission.
A CASA advocate is the tireless and passionate protector of a child who is going through the trauma of the foster care system. They are adult volunteers who are trained, appointed by the court, and are committed to ensuring each individual child’s needs remain a priority in an over-burdened child welfare system.
CASA is looking for new volunteers. Heres a video about how CASA helps children.
There’s another fund raiser coming up on September 12th.
CASA for Children of Multnomah, Washington, and Columbia Counties is partnering with Fred Meyer Jewelers to host the 23rd Annual CASA Golf Classic at Columbia Edgewater Country Club on September 12th. The tournament will raise money in support of CASA’s mission to advocate for the rights, safety, and well being of abused and neglected children who are under the protection of the courts. CASA recruits, trains, and supports hundreds of citizen volunteers who become passionate protectors and advocates for their CASA kids.
“Through the CASA Golf Classic we have achieved a great deal in the past 22 years, but there remains much more work for us to do for the many children still in need. Fred Meyer Jewelers is proud to partner with CASA and we are about making a difference for children in the Multnomah, Washington, and Columbia Counties foster care system,” said John Berglund, CASA Board member and Fred Meyer Jewelers Group Vice President of Merchandising.
To pre-purchase raffle tickets for this year’s event, click here.
Last year, the 22nd Annual CASA Golf Classic presented by Fred Meyer Jewelers, raised over $220,000! The tournament experienced its most successful year to-date. Fred Meyer Jewelers, a long-time supporter of CASA for Children, is deeply committed to giving back to its communities. In addition to supporting CASA for Children, Fred Meyer Jewelers supports nonprofits such as Jewelers for Children, The Humane Society of the United States, and Breast Cancer Research.
If you have any questions about the CASA Golf Classic, please contact Kristina Hanes at 503.988.4177 or [email protected]
Beaverton, February 27th, 2016. CASA for Children of Multnomah, Washington, and Columbia Counties hosted the 4th Annual CASA Bowl-a thon. Recruitment manager, Susan King, held the golden pin and brought her friends for the fun. The Bowl-a-thon event took place during two half-day sessions, at Sunset Lanes in Beaverton and AMF Pro 300 Lanes in Southeast Portland, and raised $56,324 to support CASA’s mission to advocate for the rights, safety, and well-being of abused and neglected children who are under the protection of the courts.
Ambaassador Board Member, Ashley Churchill, won one of many raffle prizes.
CASA’s Ambassador Board, featuring 21 young professionals representing Oregon’s top business and corporate interests, organized and ran the event. Along with Ambassador Board members, bowlers consisted of CASA’s Board of Directors, members of the child welfare community, CASA volunteers, foster families and children represented by CASA.
Throughout the day, bowlers were able to enjoy food and drink, raffle prizes and several lanes of bowling thanks to generous corporate sponsors and friends of CASA.
From CASA:
All proceeds raised from the Bowl-a-thon directly impact our ability to serve more children with a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate). A CASA passionately and tirelessly works to guide a child through the trauma of the court system. CASAs are trained to work with judges, social workers, teachers, foster parents, and family members to ensure that the safety and well-being of the child is front and center.
Currently CASA for Children of Multnomah, Washington, and Columbia counties is responsible for serving one-third of the children in Oregon’s foster care system. The annual cost to support one child with one CASA is $1,745. This year, CASA for Children will support 480 CASA volunteers who will serve 1,060 children, with the ultimate goal of finding them a permanent home quickly, safely, and effectively.
If you are interested in learning more about how to become a CASA volunteer or upcoming orientation dates, please contact CASA Recruitment Manager, Susan King, at [email protected] or (503) 988-6528.
Portland, April 12th, 2014. Over 530 guests, including Gert Boyle and Susan Schreiber, joined forces at the Portland Art Museum and raised $613,000 for CASA for Children.
The silent auction was a big hit with supporters.
The Honorable Judge Nan Waller and 2014 Stephen B. Herrell Award recipient Jackie Gango
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is a nonprofit which swings into action when a child who has been abused or neglected is going through the trauma of the foster care system. CASA advocates work tirelessly to guide them through safely, quickly, and effectively. CASA advocates are granted tremendous authority by the court, and are able to do what it takes to see that a child is not ignored, their best interests and critical needs are addressed, and that the presiding judge is able to understand the true facts of a child’s condition in an over-burdened child welfare system.
Dick and Maria Ponzi enjoying the night.
CASA for Children Executive Director Tim Hennessy tells the nonprofit’s story
From CASA:
CASAs are in a unique position to work in the system without being of the system. Throughout the process, CASAs have permission to visit the children regularly, talk to a child’s parents, teachers, caseworkers, doctors and therapists in order to hear all perspectives and give an unbiased portrayal of the case to the judge. CASA advocates help kids through the system safely, quickly, and more effectively.
Our Vision: To advocate for a child in the foster care system who has been abused or neglected and to get them into a permanent home safely, quickly and effectively.
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