Program Innovation: Bridge to Permanency

The following story is from our 2022 Annual Report. 

CASA's first goal, whenever it is safe, is to help keep children with their families. Many times, however, financial obstacles to safety and permanency can seem overwhelming. Additionally, more and more frequently, we see cases of serious domestic violence, in which mothers are trying to keep their kids safe but struggling to escape abusive partners.

CASA supplied gift cards so that the mother could purchase essential items, clothing, and food for the month, and even more significantly, CASA was able to provide funding to help her find a temporary apartment for herself and her children while they looked for permanent housing.

After a particularly frightening episode in which a mother was assaulted and feared that her partner would harm her three young children, she managed to escape to a neighbor's house and hide there with her kids. Unfortunately, she couldn't stay there long-term, and she had no means of financial support to provide housing or necessities for her family.

CASA knew that this mother had taken big risks to keep her children safe and knew that as long as they were safe from abuse, the children were better off with their mother. So, we used our Bridge to Permanency program to help.

With the Bridge to Permanency initiative, CASA provided a 21% increase in direct financial assistance to children and safe relative caregivers in 2022.

CASA supplied gift cards so that the mother could purchase essential items, clothing, and food for the month, and even more significantly, CASA was able to provide funding to help her find a temporary apartment for herself and her children while they looked for permanent housing.

CASA created the Bridge to Permanency in 2022 to offer direct financial resources to support family members who are caring for children in the child welfare system and to maintain safe and stable placements for them.

With this initiative, CASA provided a 21% increase in direct financial assistance to children and safe relative caregivers in 2022. We know that if children can be safe with their families, they will be able to leave the child welfare system sooner and permanently.