May is Foster Care Awareness month and there are currently more than 3,000 Orange County youth in the foster care system. Many are without any consistent support from a parent or relative. However, many of these children benefit from having a trained volunteer who serves as their mentor and advocate through the CASA program (Court Appointed Special Advocates.) Yet there are still almost 250 children on a waiting list hoping they too can be matched with a CASA volunteer.
Experience shows that a child who navigates the complex and frightening experience of being in the dependency care system, with a trained CASA by their side, typically has better outcomes. They are more likely to stay in school, feel a greater sense of hope about their future, and less likely to become homeless. The benefits to society are many, and the benefits to the child are immeasurable.
But the number of children in need continues to grow and the importance of recruiting more volunteers is critically important. All children benefit from having at least one consistent, caring adult in their life. And having a diverse range of volunteers who are representative of the various populations served is also important. Approximately 60% of the youth in the dependency care system identify as Hispanic, but only 12% of CASA volunteers share that ethnicity. Almost half of the children in care are boys and young men, yet men make up only 16% of the volunteer population.
Why does diversity and representation matter? Norma Mendoza, CASA’s Recruitment and DEIB Manager, says, “There are so many layers of belonging that can be stripped away from a child in care; there’s the layer of not being with your family of origin, there’s the layer of not being with people who speak the language you are most comfortable with, and there’s the layer of cultural dynamics. For example, access to therapy can be a taboo in the Hispanic community. Having an advocate who understands this taboo and can have conversations with both the caregiver and their youth in their native tongue, can make a big difference in getting youth the care they need.”
David Cavanaugh has been a CASA for several years and speaks about the importance of male mentors, “Boys grow up to be the kind of men they have as role models so this role is so important in their lives. A lot of boys enjoy sports and like having someone in their lives who shares that interest. It’s important to match a youth with an adult with similar interests.”
Maintaining cultural identity for youth who have been separated from their family is important to CASA volunteer Ruth Cochran. She says, “My kiddo is Mexican; he’s placed with family and goes to school with kids who look like him so he doesn’t stand out in any way. But other kids are pulled from their family and everyone who is similar to them, and thrown into a completely different environment. They are often removed from the food, language and cultural things that are familiar and important to them. Having a CASA mentor who’s culturally aligned can help keep a child connected to his world. Kids need that kind of connection in addition to just having a buddy who takes them to do fun things.”
Another way people can help youth in foster care without family support is by becoming a Family Finding advocate. Tara Dempster, CASA’s Family Finding Manager, describes the role, “Family Finding advocates play a crucial role in connecting youth in foster care with their families of origin and other significant adults in their lives. Maintaining connections with biological family members help youth in care to maintain a sense of identity and cultural roots. Understanding one’s heritage and background is crucial for healthy development and self-esteem.”
CASA provides free comprehensive training, ongoing supervision for all volunteers, and continuing education opportunities for anyone who wishes to serve as an advocate for local youth hoping for a CASA match. To learn more about becoming a CASA or a Family Finding advocate, visit casaoc.org. Showing up is extraordinary and every one of us has the potential to change a life.
Valerie Burchfield Rhodes, Laguna Niguel, CA, is a retired media executive, non-profit volunteer and Communications Specialist for Court Appointed Special Advocates of Orange County.
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