There are 18,000 kids in foster care in the state of Arizona alone. That’s a huge number, but there are many ways you can get involved and help. This recent AZcentral.com article outlines some great ways you can make a difference, but we wanted to focus on just one of them in this month’s blog: becoming a CASA volunteer.
There’s no denying that foster kids are a disenfranchised portion of our community. They have no voice and often no one to help them get what they need. CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates, and as a CASA volunteer, you are assigned to a specific foster child who has been the victim of parental abuse and/or neglect. It is your job to advocate for the safety and well-being of that child – to listen to what they need, to stand up for them at court hearings, and ultimately change their life. CASA is part of the child-welfare system and relies on volunteers from the community to stand up for foster kids.
CASA of Arizona and its volunteers have been advocating for abused and neglected children in Arizona for over 30 years and have served over 20,600 children. If you want to help change the lives of foster children in our state, consider becoming a CASA volunteer. You will need to complete a 30-hour pre-service training and be able to spend an average of 10 hours a month on a case. Contact 602-452-3407 or http://www.azcourts.gov/casa/Volunteer for more information.
Becoming a CASA volunteer is just one way you can help Arizona foster kids. Read the rest of this article to learn about other ways.