The holidays are a time of joy, family gatherings and traditions. But for thousands of children living in Arizona’s foster care system, the season can magnify feelings of separation, longing and uncertainty. For these children, stability is often elusive. Yet, there is a lifeline — a Court Appointed Special Advocate, or CASA, who can be the trusted adult they need.
As a CASA volunteer myself, I’ve seen firsthand the transformative power of volunteer child advocacy, and I can also tell you that being a CASA is more than just volunteering.
It’s about elevating a child’s voice and standing by them during the most challenging chapter of their young lives. CASAs are ordinary individuals who do something extraordinary. They step up to be the one constant for a child removed from their home due to abuse or neglect. They are not social workers or attorneys; they are advocates — who ensure a child’s needs, dreams and best interests are heard in court and beyond. They also make sure a child knows they can still have dreams.
Consider the numbers: in Arizona, approximately 8,000 children live in foster care or group homes. Around 5,000 of those children are in Maricopa County alone. Some are in your own community. Most do not have a CASA volunteer to represent them.
The need is immense. These children can be infants born substance-exposed, siblings separated into different placements or teenagers teetering on the edge of adulthood without a safety net. Each child deserves someone to stand in their corner.
Being a CASA requires 30 hours of initial training and means committing about 10 to 12 hours a month.
A CASA volunteer typically advocates for one child or sibling group at a time. Volunteers meet regularly with the child, attend court hearings, collaborate with case managers and caregivers, and gather crucial insights to provide informed recommendations to the court.
The training is comprehensive, and on-going support is provided. What’s required isn’t a legal degree but a giving heart, patience and a willingness to be a dependable, steady presence for a child who may have known nothing but instability.
The impact is profound. Children with a CASA are more likely to find safe, permanent homes more quickly and achieve better outcomes in school and in life. A CASA volunteer helps ensure that a child’s emotional, educational and medical needs are met. They are often the only consistent person in a child’s life during a time when everything else feels uncertain.
But here’s the part that often surprises people: the rewards of being a CASA aren’t just for the child. Volunteers frequently share how life-changing the experience is for them, as well. To meet a child who has every reason to distrust and help them rebuild their faith in others is a gift. To witness their personality emerge, their laughter return, and their hope grow — that’s a kind of fulfillment that few experiences can rival.
As we prepare to move into the new year by reflecting on the blessings in our own lives, consider becoming a blessing in someone else’s. CASA volunteers are needed year-round.
Arizona’s children deserve to feel seen, heard and valued. They deserve stability and the chance to believe in a hopeful future. As a CASA volunteer, you could be the person who changes the trajectory of their story.
Being a CASA volunteer isn’t just about giving your time. It’s about giving hope, care and a sense of normalcy to a child who needs it most. And in so doing, you might just find your life changed in ways you never imagined. I did. So, could you be that voice? A child is waiting.
Editor’s Note: Retired financial services executive Victoria Strayer is co-founder of Scottsdale-based VOICES FOR CASA, and a CASA and Foster Care Review Board volunteer. Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Share with others