Throughout 2021, we remained laser-focused on deepening the quality of advocacy for the children we serve. To do this, we ensured that volunteers had the support they needed by lowering caseloads for our professional staff, recognizing that the demands on everyone involved in this work, including CASA, are greater than they’ve ever been. We also maintained our intense focus on child safety and increased our contact with everyone involved in the lives of the children we serve. In 2021, volunteers made an average of 10% more contact with families, caregivers, and others involved in children’s lives than in 2020, and we believe that extra effort contributed to a 16% increase in the number of cases that closed within two years of being filed.

Our investment in quality advocacy has paid off for the children CASA serves. For a 17-year-old boy who was living in a residential treatment center, the road toward independence seemed impossible to navigate until CASA came into his life. With no birth certificate or social security card, there was little chance that he could qualify for housing or secure a job, and he hadn’t been taught many of the basic skills he needed to prepare for life on his own. After being assigned to the case, his CASA volunteer jumped into action. She called CPS multiple times a week to follow up on his birth certificate and social security card until he received them, advocated for him to receive tutoring so he could graduate on time, and taught him the basics of budgeting – even taking him to the grocery store so he could learn how to calculate the cost of the food in his cart. He’s now on a path toward independence and a brighter future, thanks in part to his volunteer’s strong and persistent advocacy.