ONLY ONLINE: CASA CONVERGES ON CAPITOL TO STAND UP FOR ABUSED CHILDREN

CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates, will join hundreds of other child and family advocates at the Capitol on April 2nd asking lawmakers to join them in standing up for thousands of Louisiana’s abused and neglected children.

    Each year CASA serves some 4,000 children in the foster care system right here in Louisiana through the efforts and unwavering commitment of nearly 2,000 volunteers.  CASA volunteers are community citizens who, regardless of formal education or work backgrounds, have made a commitment to stand up for a child by speaking up for the child’s best interest in court.  

The focus of the capitol event is to shine a light on child abuse and neglect in Louisiana while educating Louisiana policy makers on the needs of children in foster care and how CASA is making a positive difference. The event will also serve as a call to action for the community- at-large to volunteer with CASA. Residents throughout Louisiana are invited to show their support for children by attending the event on April 2nd at the Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge.

     Independent research shows having a CASA volunteer dramatically affects permanency outcomes for children.  Children with CASA volunteers are substantially less likely to spend time in long-term foster care.  A child with a CASA volunteer is also more likely to be adopted. The possibility of a child re-entering the child welfare system after being reunified with his/her family is reduced by half if a CASA is involved and, more than 90% of children with CASA volunteers never re-enter foster care, a success which demonstrates that CASA prevents repeat maltreatment.