Advocate for Cecil County's Abused & Neglected Children - Become a CASA!

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**NOTE** TO LEARN MORE ABOUT VOLUNTEERING, PLEASE USE THIS DIRECT LINK AND DO NOT INQUIRE THROUGH VOLUNTEERMATCH: http://marylandcasa.org/get-involved/

One caring person can make an enormous difference in the life of a child in foster care.

Today in Maryland there are nearly 5,000 abused, neglected, or abandoned children in foster care throughout the state. These children's needs often go unmet as they navigate their way through the child welfare system. Until a CASA volunteer comes along...

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA for short) are volunteers who serve as the "eyes and ears" of the court, getting to know the child while gathering information from the child’s family, foster parents, teachers, counselors, etc. and making recommendations to help the judge overhearing the child's case to decide what is best for the child. CASA volunteers come from all walks of life but converge on the common goal of improving children's lives.

Here are just a few examples of the ways in which CASA Volunteers have helped some of the nearly 1,600 children served by CASA in the past year:

• Jackson*, a nine-year-old boy with deep trauma issues, was suspended from school because of his behavioral issues. His CASA volunteer, Lisa, persisted in arranging a meeting with his teachers and the administration. They discussed what triggers his behavior problems and how they could intervene so Jackson could stay in school without creating problems for other students.
• When mistakes in paperwork were going to prevent 18-year-old Keyonna* from graduating, Carole, her CASA volunteer, met with her teachers and counselor to sort the problem out. Now, instead of being held back and likely dropping out, Keyonna is enrolled in classes at her local community college!
• Kyle* was placed in foster care as an infant as a result of physical and medical neglect by his mother. Kyle suffers from severe eczema, which causes open wounds and sores over the majority of his body. Kyle’s CASA volunteer, Leonard, supported Kyle’s foster parents in ensuring that he received all necessary treatments and visited the doctor regularly. Leonard continued to support the foster family, and Kyle was adopted on his third birthday.

You may also learn more by checking out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiNCOEnJ22o