Community Impact

CASA volunteers deliver real results.

In a survey conducted by CASA staff, Kent County Family Court judges expressed great appreciation for CASA services and identified an urgent need for the program to expand its service capabilities. At present, judges can refer only their most complex, troubling cases to us—many fewer than they feel are needed. We need additional volunteer and donor support to satisfy the need.

Key Outcomes

Judges appreciate CASA because CASA works. Research demonstrates that children with CASA volunteers are more likely to find a safe, permanent home. CASA children are:

• More likely to be adopted
• Less likely to be bounced from home to home
• Half as likely to reenter foster care
• Substantially less likely to spend time in long-term foster care
• More likely to have a plan for permanency, especially if they’re children of color

CASA children also do better in school:

• More likely to pass all courses
• Less likely to have poor conduct in school
• Less likely to be expelled

CASA works because CASA volunteers take their jobs seriously:

• Volunteers spend significantly more time with the child than a paid guardian or social worker does.
• Volunteers reduce the time needed by lawyers and are more likely than paid lawyers to file written reports.
• Volunteers are highly effective in getting their recommendations adopted by the court.
• Judges rated volunteers more highly than attorneys on each of nine duties.

The work of our volunteers not only improves young lives—it also reduces the burden on courts and taxpayers, now and in the future.

You can find the evidence for this data here.