Court Appointed Special Advocates
Helping Bullitt County’s Most Vulnerable Children
The child welfare system is a complex structure that is intimidating to everyone in contact with its inner workings. Already traumatized children must interact with this large intricate, overburdened system that includes law enforcement, child protective services, judges, attorneys, pediatricians, therapists, schools, teachers, family members and foster parents. The ultimate goal for a child embroiled in this daunting process is a safe, permanent, loving home.
Court Appointed Special Advocates Provide Stability and a Voice for Children
CASA is a national nonprofit organization with local independent programs. The CASA Program for Bullitt County is one of over 950 programs across the nation. CASA’s mission is to recruit, train, and support community volunteers who represent the “best interests” of abused and neglected children throughout the entire court case. Our CASA volunteers provide a voice and much needed support for Bullitt County’s most at-risk children.
CASA Volunteers Save Money by Reducing a Child’s Time in Foster Care
Currently CASA programs across the Commonwealth of Kentucky serve 41 of the 120 counties. Kentucky is one of only eight states that do not provide financial support to their CASA programs. An average total cost for CASA to serve and advocate for a child in Kentucky is just over $650, while one month of foster care can cost up to $2,100 per month. Statistics report that a child with a CASA spends 7.5 fewer months in foster care compared to a child without a CASA volunteer. If the length of time spent in out-of-home care decreased by 7.5 months for just 100 children, Kentucky would save as much as $1.5 million. CASA volunteers across the United States save individual states hundreds of millions of dollars in child welfare costs annually by reducing long-term placements, improving educational outcomes, and reducing juvenile crime incarceration.
CASA Programs Strengthen Communities
CASA volunteer service is an investment to the community in which these volunteers reside. Civic engagement, like volunteer programs, have been strongly correlated with social capital, which is the glue that holds successful societies together and positively impacts human growth and human well-being.
Fundraising activities for CASA programs involve corporate/personal donors, grants, local businesses, and individuals in the community to help with sponsorships and in-kind donations. These donors as well as CASA volunteers are investing in breaking the cycle of child abuse and creating positive outcomes for children while producing productive community citizens.