Why Become a CASA Volunteer?
You will make a difference in the life of a foster youth in Sacramento County by becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) and speaking up for them in court!
CASA Volunteers are community members, just like you, who are trained and then appointed by a judge to advocate, on a one-to-one basis, for a youth who has been removed from home due to abuse, neglect and/or abandonment.
You will develop a bond with your youth and make sure the judge and others in the child welfare system know the youth’s perspective and needs. Without a CASA Volunteer, a foster youth has no voice in court and goes unheard. You can significantly impact a child’s journey while in foster care by speaking up on their behalf.
Research shows it only takes one caring adult to change the course of a young persons life, and in the case of a foster youth, that person is often their CASA Volunteer. Through one-on-one guidance and support and in-court advocacy, CASA Volunteers ensure their youth have access to health, education and permanency planning services that will improve their quality of life, break the cycle of abuse and neglect, provide strong adult relationships, and prepare them for positive adult citizenship. Ultimately, CASA Sacramento Volunteers reverse the trends typically seen by foster youth, particularly those who age out of care without a family in place.
Youth with CASA Volunteers realize better outcomes:
- More likely to be adopted
- Re-enter foster care system half as frequently
- Move from home to home less often
- Have a better chance of staying connected to siblings
- More likely to complete high school and attend college
- Fall prey to drugs and violence less frequently
In addition, societal costs to our community are minimized or reduced:
- A youth with a CASA Volunteer spends less time in foster care, which costs upwards of $20,000/year/foster family home and $96,000/year/group home.
- One year of CASA advocacy costs less than one month of foster care.
- CASA Volunteers reduce the time the youth’s publicly-provided attorney needs to invest in the case.
- Foster youth with CASA Volunteers are less likely to require public assistance or be incarcerated. It costs $63,000 to house a non-violent offender in California.
We invite you to learn more. Volunteer orientations are held the second Wednesday evening of every month. Contact our Training and Recruitment Manager, Danielle Dace, at 916-875-3011, to reserve your space today. Or complete the on-line inquiry form here.