This document discusses the need for Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers in Alabama to help the over 7,000 children in foster care each year. It notes that children in foster care often face multiple placements, falling behind in school, and recurring abuse. CASA volunteers help give children a voice in court and advocate for their best interests. The document outlines the history and goals of CASA programs in Alabama, and highlights data showing that children with CASA volunteers are less likely to remain in long-term foster care or reenter the system. It argues that expanding CASA programs could help more children find safe, permanent homes and save taxpayers millions each year.

1. CAMPAIGN FOR FOSTER CHILDREN
Alabama Court Appointed Special Advocates Networks (CASA)
Give a Child a Voice.
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2. Agenda
The Crisis
History of Court Appointed Special Advocates(CASA)
Alabama CASA Network
The CASA Solution
Goals
Discussion
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3. THE CRISIS
At any one time, more than 7,000 kids in Alabama are in foster care
because they cannot live safely with their families. [LOGO]
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4. On average, a child is moved at least 3 times
while in foster care—often more.
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National Children’s Law Network [LOGO]

5. 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
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6. COMPLICATION
Foster kids typically attend 9 different schools by age 18.
National Children’s Law Network
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7. The Annual cost of one child in foster care for Alabama
34 MONTHS (avg time spent in foster care) X $2400 (monthly cost) $81,600
MULTIPLE FOSTER PLACEMENTS = FALLING BEHIND A GRADE IN SCHOOL $7,000
RECCURRENCING CYCLE OF ABUSE $30,000-$125,000
JUVENILE DELINQUENCY $50,000 OR MORE
TOTAL ANNUAL COST FOR ONE CHILD $ 168,600
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8. History of CASA
•Founder- Judge David Soukup Seattle Washington
•In 1978 a nationwide survey was done by the office of Juvenile
Justice and delinquency to evaluate advocate programs in juvenile
courts.
•The Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990
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9. Alabama CASA Network
The Mission of Alabama Court Appointed Special Advocates
(CASA) Network is to ensure that every abused, neglected and/
or abandoned child in Alabama has a competent, caring
volunteer appointed to advocate for the child’s best interest in
court.
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10. Alabama CASA Network
A state-level organization, Al Court Appointed Special Advocates Network (CASA) works with a
network of 10 local CASA programs that recruit, train, and support volunteer advocates who
work to make each child count. Since 1993, Al CASA has been working to better the lives of
thousands of Alabama’s children by strengthening, sustaining and growing Alabama’s CASA
network. Al CASA provides wide-ranging assistance to local CASA programs in a variety of ways:
starting new CASA programs; helping existing programs expand; providing technical assistance
and legislative education; and in general “lightening the load” for local programs.
Additionally, Alabama CASA strives to promote Court Appointed Special Advocates on a
statewide level, educating the public about CASA, and working with other child welfare agencies
to ensure all of Alabama’s children entering in the abuse and neglect system have a bright
future. [LOGO]
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11. 67 counties in Alabama
Only 10 counties have CASA Programs
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12. Key Numbers (2010)
CHILDREN: 7,000 kids in foster care in Alabama
VOLUNTEERS: 275 Number of Children Served: 600
HOURS (10 hrs per month): 33,000 hours
HOURS VALUE($21 hr): $693,000.00
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13. Key Numbers
•
CASA is a cost effective solution. It costs $1,000 a year for a child to
have a CASA.
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CASA volunteers carry a caseload of 1-3 children. DHR case workers
carry a caseload of 28-32 children.
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A child with a CASA volunteer is less likely to reenter the child welfare
system. The proportion of reentries is consistently reduced by half.
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14. CASA Solution
CASA volunteers do what no one else does
In each case a CASA Volunteer conducts an independent review of a child's
circumstance and submits formal recommendations for the child’s placement.
During the course of the review , the CASA volunteer interviews individuals with
pertinent information, such as the child, parents, family member, teachers,
neighbors and doctors and inspects all documents and records.
They donate their time to act as the independent eyes and ears of the court,
investigate in the field, and speak solely in the interests of the child.
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15. CASA VOLUNTEERS = A PROVEN SOLUTION
95 percent of kids with a CASA volunteer stay out of long-term foster care (3
years).
Kids with CASA volunteers are more likely to be adopted.
U.S. Department of Justice
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16. e d d
loy less r ate t
em
p
om
e a rce pou
un h inc dro
A recent study found children who suffer abuse are 50 percent
more likely to engage in many types of crime.
Does Child Abuse Cause Crime?, Janet Currie & Erdal Tekin, National Bureau of Economic Research, 2007
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17. It can be different…
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sfu
l u ctiv f hoo
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e m e rod er o h sc te
s u cc r e ho
p b hig ua
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are m t gra
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so ci e
A CASA volunteer and a safe, permanent
home for every child in foster care.
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18. If every child in AL foster care spent 1 less month in foster care,
Al taxpayers would save over 16 million dollars annually.
(7,000*2400)
CASA Volunteers = Exponential ROI
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19. We believe every foster child needs a Court-Appointed Special Advocate, or CASA
volunteer, to watch over them and advocate on their behalf until the child is
placed in a safe, permanent home. Kids with CASA volunteers are less likely to stay
in foster care long-term, and more likely to be adopted. In other words, CASA
volunteers change the lives of the kids they serve.
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20. CAMPAIGN FOR FOSTER CHILDREN
DISCUSSION
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21. Thank You For Your Consideration
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