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Mr. Wexler's passion is commendable, however, it appears that his perspective does not give listeners an accurate nor a positive view of the wonderful men and women who give of their time and often finances to offer support and a voice in court to some of our nation's most fragile children. 

As a director who also serves as a volunteer for a local CASA program in Oregon, I would like listeners and fellow bloggers to know that all CASA programs send in an annual report to national CASA.  This is likely where Mr. Wexler got his data regarding children having a CASA spending more time in foster care.

He failed to mention the other statistical data which was likely contained in the same reports.  Children in Foster Care with a CASA are less likely to be removed from their homes a second time.  They also are less likely to be moved from foster home to foster home. 

Other statistics reveal that children having a CASA do better in school and are less likely to feel that their situation is hopeless.

CASA volunteers receive an initial training of 30 hours.  During training, the volunteer learns to differentiate between poverty and an environment which poses a safety threat to a child.  Volunteers are also trained to be culturally sensitive. 

I think we can all agree that too many children are needlessly removed from their homes and this is one reason why foster children need volunteers to thoroughly evaluate the case, make recommendations to the court, and to be a voice for the child.

Pamela

Director of CASA

Rural Oregon

Oregonoutback

posted 3 years, 2 months ago
view in context

Mr. Wexler's passion is commendable, however, it appears that his perspective does not give listeners an accurate nor a positive view of the wonderful men and women who give of their time and often finances to offer support and a voice in court to some of our nation's most fragile children. 

As a director who also serves as a volunteer for a local CASA program in Oregon, I would like listeners and fellow bloggers to know that all CASA programs send in an annual report to national CASA.  This is likely where Mr. Wexler got his data regarding children having a CASA spending more time in foster care.

He failed to mention the other statistical data which was likely contained in the same reports.  Children in Foster Care with a CASA are less likely to be removed from their homes a second time.  They also are less likely to be moved from foster home to foster home. 

Other statistics reveal that children having a CASA do better in school and are less likely to feel that their situation is hopeless.

CASA volunteers receive an initial training of 30 hours.  During training, the volunteer learns to differentiate between poverty and an environment which poses a safety threat to a child.  Volunteers are also trained to be culturally sensitive. 

I think we can all agree that too many children are needlessly removed from their homes and this is one reason why foster children need volunteers to thoroughly evaluate the case, make recommendations to the court, and to be a voice for the child.

Pamela

Director of CASA

Rural Oregon

posted 3 years, 2 months ago
view in context