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Addressing the Effects of Abuse, Neglect & Other Trauma

Experiencing abuse, neglect and other forms of trauma can impact physical and mental health, academic achievement, and more. The support of a CASA volunteer can help children build resilience to counter those impacts. 

According to National data, nearly 1 in every 100 child has experienced abuse and/or neglect in the United States, as of 2024 (the most recent fiscal year’s data). Neglect is the most common form of abuse and children who experience abuse are typically abused by a parent or guardian.

Infographic highlighting the impacts of trauma, including feelings of helplessness and fear, brain development and mental health, and educational achievement and employment, with icons of a sad face, a brain, and a bus.

Children with advocates reach a permanent home faster.

In 2018, children with a CASA volunteer reached a permanent home faster, when compared with all children in out-of-home care.

Volunteers encourage placement in family-like settings.

Youth placed in group homes don’t fare as well as those in family settings. In advocating for these youth, our volunteers help ensure they are not placed in group care unnecessarily or in a situation that is not good for them.

Enabling Children’s Well-Being Over Time

CASA volunteers give vulnerable children an opportunity to thrive.

Children’s well-being includes the characteristics and skills that enable them to understand and navigate the world in a healthy, positive way. Well-being is related to children’s physical health and their social, behavioral and emotional functioning. CASA volunteers identify, recommend and ensure children receive the services that will support their well-being – from early childhood through their transition to adulthood

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Supporting early development

CASA volunteers work to ensure young children are in placements with loving, consistent caregivers. For infants and young children, a strong, nurturing and consistent relationship to caregivers is key to healthy development.

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Enabling school-aged children to succeed

CASA/GAL volunteers advocate for appropriate educational placement and services. Children in foster care are more likely to struggle academically, or to be identified as having a disability.

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Helping youth prepare for independence

Advocates help youth set and achieve post-secondary and career training goals. Many must depend fully on themselves, but also often lack the preparation others their age have had for independent living.

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2025 Impact

A graphic showing two simplified human figures, one larger woman with pigtails and one smaller child, in red on a dark blue background. Text reads '58 CHILDREN SERVED'.
Graphic with a red hand holding a red heart against a blue background, text reads '23 Active Volunteers'.
Logo with a red folder icon and white text stating '33 Cases Managed' on a dark blue background.
Map pin icon with the text '241 Casa Visits' below it.
A blue background with a red heart and white text that reads "Become a Volunteer."
Red house icon with a blue heart in the center, on a blue background with white text that reads '19 SAFE & PERMANENT HOMES FOUND'.
A graphic icon of a red scale of justice on a blue background with white text that reads "90 hearings attended"