CASAs Provide a Lifeline for Oregon’s Jeopardized Children

I didn’t know, growing up, that I led a charmed life.  I suppose that’s part of living a charmed life: you naively assume that those girls 
and boys filling the desks beside you and the playground around you, each belong to a household much like your own.  

Soon, of course, I would grow up to learn otherwise…

I would learn that while my parents were reading me picture books and rocking me to sleep… There was a one-year-old baby boy, 
nearby, left in his crib.  His diaper, unchanged. His face, red from screaming.  

That while my sisters and I were running through the sprinklers and carefully constructing mud villages in my Mom’s garden beds… 
Another little girl was left outdoors in the blistering heat until she suffered a heat stroke.  

That while I was tucked into my bunk-bed and kissed on the forehead… There was a child, not far away, being left to watch late night shows on the couch, while her mother took off for the night- yet again.  

Yes, these children’s upbringings were perhaps a neighborhood away from mine, but their experiences may have well placed them a world apart.  I have not drawn up these examples simply to create a dramatic contrast- rather, these are the true stories that have 
been shared with me over dinner tables and lattes.  They come straight from the chapters of some of my best friends’ lives.  Dear 
people whom my children now call “uncle” and “aunts”.  

It is largely due to their heart-wrenching stories, that I am now painfully aware that many of those children surrounding me at the 
playground all those years ago, did not go home to experience the same safety and security that I did… if they had a home to go to at all.

January 31st, a startling report from the Secretary of State was released to the public, confirming that the situation for many children in
Oregon continues to be dire.  A year-long, thorough investigation found the current state of Child Welfare and the entire foster care 
system to be “disorganized, inconsistent, and high risk for the children it serves”.  

They highlighted the major deficiencies currently within the system, most notably:

• A severe lack of management and data needed to measure the success of various programs.  Essentially, they are not 
  implementing any methods of tracking what is working and what is not.

• A huge shortage of foster homes, and no planning directed toward recruiting and retaining places for these vulnerable children to go.

• Caseworkers, often with little experience, who are strapped with overwhelming workloads, and offered insufficient resources 
  and training.

At the end of the day, the nearly-8,000 kids placed in the Oregon foster care system on any given day are the ones most affected by 
these deficits.  

Anyone who can read this extensive report and reduce it down to mere policy and politics, has clearly not been touched by the abuse,
addiction and mental illness plaguing Oregon families.  And for those of us who have been blessed to not know this brokenness 
firsthand, I would venture to say that it is high time to get our hands dirty.

Yes, this report should not be viewed as an opportunity to cast stones— at DHS, political parties, caseworkers, or unsafe homes… 
Many of whom are tirelessly devoted to bettering this situation.

Rather, this report should stir us up to our responsibility to love our neighbors.  

It is a call to stop pointing fingers and to start doing something— anything!-  to stand with these abused and neglected children in our
communities.  

I say this, not condescendingly. But as one who waited too long to roll up my own sleeves.

A year and a half ago, my husband and I knew it was time to join arms in this fight.  So we attended a CASA orientation.

Frankly, with two little ones and another on the way, we went into it doubtful that we would be able to commit.  But what we discovered was an incredible privilege to advocate for the children in the system, in a personal and practical way.  

CASA, or Court Appointed Special Advocates, is a non-profit organization that raises up volunteers within the community, to be a 
voice for vulnerable children— and this recent report amplifies just how deep this need is.

For example, the SOS audit found that caseworkers are often juggling three to four times the recommended caseload, making it 
impossible for even the most passionate welfare worker to maintain relationship with all the children and their families— not to 
mention checking in with the attorneys, foster parents, therapists, teachers and doctors.  

CASAs, however, have the unique opportunity to be a legal party on these same cases, but focused entirely on one child .  In their 
free time, they spend time with the child, as well as the people in their lives.  After observing and researching what ultimately will be in the best interest of the child, they report their findings to the Judge.  

After being on two cases now as a CASA, I have witnessed just how influential this role is.  

When the caseworker is struggling to keep up with monthly visits, the CASA is able to visit schools, print doctor records, and observe 
the child’s patterns of behavior.  The other legal parties respect this perspective, and often the Judge makes a ruling based on the 
CASA report’s recommendations.

And it’s not just my personal experience speaking to the power of the CASA role— the nearly 1,000 programs, supporting 77,000 
advocates around the country have the numbers to prove it.  Children with a CASA have:

-Shorter durations in the system

-Fewer placements
-Higher school performance

Not only that, but it is estimated that $540 million a year is saved in foster care alone, because of CASAs advocating for the child’s 
best interest.  

CASA has delivered incredible results amidst a system riddled with “time-consuming and costly initiatives”.   Even Oregon Law 
acknowledges how vital CASAs are, stating that “in every case under ORS chapter 419B, the court shall appoint a court appointed 
special advocate”.  Hopefully, as they work to improve the processes and programs in Child Welfare, funds will be reallocated to this 
organization that is currently only 14% government funded.  

Beyond badly-needed funding, the single greatest need of CASA is volunteers willing to step into these children’s lives.  In 2017, there were 183 Court Appointed Special Advocates in Jackson County, representing 648 children.  But unfortunately, that currently leaves 
almost five hundred abused and neglected children who do not have a CASA.  

Children, just like my dear friends, growing up.

Children who are abused, abandoned, and neglected.

Children, who need a voice.

While the audit reviewing Oregon’s foster system may be a harsh reminder of the rampant tragedy and brokenness surrounding us, 
we are not left despairing.  

For there is hope— when one, genuine person is willing to reach into the brokenness.

There is power- when the privileged extend their hand to the vulnerable.

And there is change- when the influential stop, stoop, and listen.  

And I believe that there are hundreds of men, women and couples, who— upon discovering this incredible avenue available to them— will become CASAs, and go on to forever impact these children and families around us.

To learn more about becoming a CASA, attend an orientation: every Thursday, 12-1pm

409 N. Front Street

Medford, OR  97501

541-734-2272

http://www.jacksoncountycasa.org