OUR SUCCESS

 

With the help of a CASA, children have a better chance of getting through the trauma of the foster care system more safely, quickly and effectively. Here are some of the ways a CASA makes a difference in the life of an abused or neglected child in the foster care system:

 

SAFELY

• Children in the court system can move from foster home to foster home an average of 6.6 times. With the help of a CASA, children can experience less trauma by helping to reduce that number, sometimes to an average of 3.9 moves.

• A child is twice as likely to receive the counseling needed to treat serious issues due to abuse and neglect with a CASA advocating on their behalf.

 

QUICKLY

• Children with a CASA have the advantage of having a consistent advocate present, who helps show the courts the reality of the child's life and situation. This clarity has the ability to move the process along quickly. Finding a safe and permanent home as quickly as possible is a priority.

 

EFFECTIVELY

• Oregon tax payers spend $26,600 per child per year in foster care. With the help of a CASA, the child moves quickly through the system reducing the tax payers’ cost per child by $17,736.

• CASA volunteers dedicate approximately 108,240 hours a year filling a critical need for a child in an overburdened court system. These hours are valued at $2.22 million which is the equivalent of 52 full-time employees.

• Cases with a CASA are more likely to be permanently closed by finding a safe and permanent home so children do not re-enter the system.

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ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2019-2020:

• 1,017 children who were abused or neglected received a CASA

• 471 CASAs advocated on behalf of these children.

• 307 new children were served

• 89 new CASAs joined the program

• 304 cases were successfully closed