Need for Volunteers

Your local CASA® program offers a volunteer opportunity like no other. CASA volunteers are empowered to make a lifelong difference in the lives of abused and neglected children.

Last year, our 876 CASA volunteers advocated for 2,194 children—an impressive number yet just half of the children in the child welfare system at any given time.

Our volunteers are an amazing force for good, but we need more of them. Our vision is that every child who needs a volunteer will have one. With your help, we can reach that goal.

CASA® volunteers are always happy to share their stories – the work they do is inspiring, humbling, and deeply rewarding. 
Read their stories..

By the Numbers

In an overburdened social welfare system, abused and neglected children often slip through the cracks.  On average, a foster kid will remain in the system for 3 years.  The Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care

95% of kids with a CASA volunteer stay out of long-term foster care.
90% of kids with a CASA volunteer do not re-enter the child welfare system. Kids with CASA volunteers are more likely to be
adopted. U.S. Department of Justice
At any one time, more than 500,000 kids are in foster care because they cannot live safely with their families.
On average, a child is moved at least 3 times while in foster care--often more. National Children's Law Network                              

Kansas Statistics

In 2011, the 24 Kansas CASA programs in Kansas advocated for 2,225 children with 969 CASA volunteers.  Those volunteers provided over 60,000 hours of advocacy to those children.

The member programs of the Kansas CASA Association believe our volunteer advocates have a positive impact on the lives of the children we serve.  It is our ultimate goal that every child should have a safe, permanent home as quickly as possible after entering the court system as a child in need of care and should be safe while under the jurisdiction of the court.  We have defined three outcome measurements to demonstrate the impact CASA volunteers can have on the lives of the abused and neglected children they serve.  In 2010, our programs accomplished the following:

Child safety in placement  

99% of children had no substantiated recurrence of abuse or neglect while a CASA was assigned to the case.       

CASA stability

93% of children had no change in their CASA volunteer                                                                                                                   

Children remain in safe, permanent homes                                                                                                                                                    

98% of children did not return to their jurisdiction's court system two years after the case closure, due to abuse or neglect

In addition, as we believe substance abuse is a significant issue facing the children and families we serve, we track data on the number of children in need of care served by our programs that are impacted by substance abuse.

In 2011, 40% of children's cases involved substance abuse by the parent and/or child.

Making an Impact

Of course we know our program is effective. We see the results everyday we go to work. But it’s nice to know there is research to back up the importance of children in the court system having a CASA volunteer to advocate for them.

The National CASA® organization provides a great overview of various studies that highlight the multitude of ways CASA volunteers make a difference, like the fact that a child with a CASA® volunteer is more likely to find a permanent home and less likely to reenter the child welfare system. Read more here.

The Kansas CASA Association and its local program are certified by the National CASA Association, meaning we adhere to formal standards and must pass a quality assurance review every four years. Working in partnership with National CASA and local CASA® programs, the Kansas CASA Association provides:

• Additional support, technical assistance and information to our local CASA programs
• Support for developing new CASA programs in the state
• Opportunities for communication, networking and support among CASA program staff
• Increased awareness of CASA work and the needs of children who are abused and neglected in their states

Legislative Action

Nothing is more sacred than ensuring that all Kansas children are living in safe and loving homes. Our priority is to provide children in the court system with a CASA volunteer, but it takes support from many places to do so. The state legislature plays a key role in helping us improve the lives of children displaced from their homes by helping to fund the work we do. We’ve been fortunate to have great support from attorneys, judges, and legislators since the inception of our programs in the State of Kansas. However, there are still needs that need met that could better enhance our services and enable us to serve more children.