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The Power of Volunteering, and Giving Children a Voice

Posted on December 26th, 2011 by Tina Italiano

For a little over two years, I have been a volunteer for Voices for Children – the CASA program in the City of St. Louis. The mission of the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association, together with its state and local members, is to support and promote court-appointed volunteer advocacy for abused and neglected children so they can thrive in safe, permanent homes.

I chose to volunteer because I wanted to do something to help out in the community and I knew I wanted to work with kids. In order to be appointed as a CASA advocate, you have to be committed to the cause – you must complete a 16-hour training course and be sworn in by the Judge. CASA advocates dedicate their hearts and minds to improving life for children in St. Louis, maintaining the child welfare system’s focus on the child. It’s my responsibility to provide the court a full picture of a child’s life and recommend what I think is best for him or her. CASA advocates can truly change the lives of abused children by helping them move from foster care to safe, stable homes where they have a chance for a brighter future.

Here’s an example of how a case can unfold: my very first case involved an infant who was left in a car on a hot summer day, as his mother passed out from drug use. Once the child was taken into custody by Children’s Division and placed into relative foster care (with a Great Aunt), the Court became his legal guardian.

The main goal, as with any case, is reunification with the child’s biological parent(s). In order to do that, the parent(s) is/are required to complete Court required services. In addition to a parenting course and psychological evaluation, this child’s mother needed to complete drug rehabilitation. She was in and out of several programs, but kept relapsing. She finally determined that she was not and would not be in a good place to raise her child. Currently, she has found a program that is working for her, but she still granted permission for the child’s Great Aunt to have guardianship so that he could get out of the Children’s Division custody. If, in the future, the mother is able to provide a stable, healthy lifestyle, she can petition the court for custody of the child.

During this entire process, the CASA advocates “speaks” for the child – giving them a voice in all critical decisions affecting their well being while in foster care.

It’s been a rewarding experience, and I’m glad I decided to volunteer my time. If you would like more information on Voices for Children, or are interested in volunteering or becoming a CASA advocate, visit their website at www.voices-stl.org.