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What We Do

Teen boy living in foster care stands with his CASA volunteer

What We Do

CASA for Children recruits, trains and coaches community volunteers who advocate on behalf of abused and neglected children in our community. CASA advocates visit with the children and their families and have access to everyone involved in the child's life. Armed with that information, the advocates write court reports directly to the family court judge with recommendations for services and resources that are in the child’s best interests.

CASA volunteers remain on each case, and advocate for each child, until their case is resolved - either reunited with family, adopted or placed with a relative. The number one priority for each child is to help ensure that they are living in a secure, safe home.

 

Young girl celebrates her adoption day, ending her days in foster care.

Why We Do It

When abuse or neglect forces a child from their home, their future is determined by what happens during the months or years that they spend in foster care and what actions occur on their behalf. Foster care creates difficulty and stress for children that can result in depression, anxiety and long-term, trauma-related challenges. Research shows that only 50% of foster youth earn a high school diploma, only 2% go to college, and 51% of youth who age out of foster care are unemployed. At 21, foster youth leave the child welfare system, whether or not they have a permanent home. Without the guidance of a trusting adult, foster youth face barriers to resources and educational achievement. As a result, former foster youth can become unhoused (25%), uninsured (30%), and reliant on public assistance (30%). The CASA volunteer is the coordinating collaborator, who helps connect the youth to services, aids in maintaining family connections, and helps the youth prepare for their future.

Our Impact Last Fiscal Year

  • Children and youth served

    382

  • CASA volunteers

    185

  • Hours donated by CASA volunteers

    5,277

  • Recommendations made on behalf of the children
    Recommendations made on behalf of the children

    2,514

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    Clay's Climate Control
  • Office of Victim Crimes
    Office of Victim Crimes
  • City of Atlantic City
    City of Atlantic City
  • Foster Karney Foundation Fund
    Foster Karney Foundation Fund
  • United Way
    United Way

    United Way logo

  • Avalon Lions
    Avalon Lions
  • OceanFirst Bank

    OceanFirst Bank logo

  • Boardwalk Hall
    Boardwalk Hall
  • AtlantiCare
    AtlantiCare
  • Sturdy Savings Bank
    Sturdy Savings Bank
  • Greater Atlantic City Charities
  • WSFS Foundation
  • Holman
  • NFI
  • Spencer
  • IMPACT100
  • OceanFirst Bank
  • Camden County
  • Donchain Foundation
  • Wawa Foundation
  • Caesars Foundation
  • CRA Financial
© 2024 CASA for Children Atlantic and Cape May Counties

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