December 2010

A child hides under her bed and cries because she is afraid. Another child stares blankly out the window and though he too is afraid, he does not cry. CASA hears them, and hundreds of children like them – children who have been abused, neglected, and made to suffer. But each child with a CASA volunteer has the chance of a lifetime to stop living in fear.
Last July, I interviewed Susan Berger, Executive Director of CASABaltimore and came away with a handful of notes, and a heart full of admiration. In her tiny office in downtown Baltimore, we spoke for an hour and though we could have spent many more hours talking about the important work of this agency, I learned enough to tell you that something quite wonderful happens in Baltimore and across the nation.
What is CASA? The letters stand for Court Appointed Special Advocates. Casa is also the Spanish word for house and CASA volunteers make every effort to make every child’s house a real home.
What do CASA volunteers do? Their special training enables them to observe, to hear, to feel, to assess the children’s physical, mental, and emotional needs with an objectivity often found lacking in family members and their legal representatives. With only their well-being as their mandate, the volunteers provide the courts with the information they need to determine the safest and most secure setting for the children.
How and when did CASA start? Forty years ago, throughout the nation, overburdened social service agencies, with limited budgets and crowded schedules could not keep up with the supervision of children in distress. So, in 1977, in Seattle, WA, a conscientious judge created CASA as a way to stop children from falling through the cracks as they pass through the courts. Now they would have kind and compassionate individuals from all walks of life as their advocates before, during, and after placement in foster homes, relatives’ homes, group homes, or their own homes. Now, for the first time, children would be granted the right to a better life with CASA volunteers safeguarding them from further harm. In Baltimore alone, there are 6000 children waiting to be heard.
Who are the volunteers? After my interview with Susan Berger, I was introduced to Rhoda, a retired Baltimore City Public School principal. Her love for children shone in her eyes when she spoke of them. I asked Rhoda why she was drawn to this work and without a moment’s hesitation, she spoke of her desire to“give back” to the community. Such a spirit of generosity is a basic requirement. She spoke with a sense of pride about having qualified after the thorough and detailed screening process and training she received. Rhoda described the problems of children who are moved from place to place until the right combination of factors are in play. CASA volunteers remain on the case until the placement is a good fit and they remain on the case to make certain that the children thrive there. Rhoda told me about one of “her” children, as she called the 10 year old boy who was placed in a foster home and after 3 weeks was moved to another home which lasted 2 weeks and on to a 3rd placement. It is not unusual for children to move from house to house week after week after week in an effort to find the “home” that will meet the particular child’s needs.
CASA is a non-profit agency that receives some State funding, grants and gifts, and contributions from people like you. With additional funds, this excellent organization could reach out to more children who sit in dark rooms, staring out the window, afraid and alone. With more volunteers, frightened children would come out from under their beds and move to homes that will give them a chance of a lifetime.

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