The start of the school year can spark enthusiasm and excitement among students as they look forward to reuniting with friends, meeting new teachers and classmates, and diving into new subjects. But, for children in foster care, the beginning of a new school year can be a scary and unpredictable time.

Children enter foster care due to no fault of their own, but because their families are facing crises. Once they are placed in foster care they often face uncertainty and instability, moving from one placement to another, caseworker to caseworker, and oftentimes school to school.

“Changing schools due to foster care placement not only disrupts a student’s academic progress, but it also severs their ties with friends and mentors. Couple this with the trauma these young people have already experienced, which can impact their learning and behavior, and it is understandable why children in care often experience worse educational outcomes than their peers,” Suzanne Hughes, Executive Director of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for Children, explained.

How can we help children and youth in foster care beat the odds and succeed? “With CASA volunteers,” Hughes said.

CASA volunteers are individuals from all walks of life who are recruited and specially trained to advocate for abused or neglected children living in the foster care system. Their role is to provide a consistent, reliable adult presence for these children during challenging times in their lives.

Appointed by a judge to a single child or group of siblings, CASA volunteers advocate for the best interests of the child in court, school, and other environments. They get to know the child and everyone involved in their life, such as their parents and other family members, foster parents, therapists, case workers, and teachers.

They play a crucial role in advocating for children’s education by helping teachers, counselors, and school administrators in understanding the child’s unique challenges and needs. They also advocate for placement and school stability for the children they serve, as it is generally in the child’s best interest to remain in their original school whenever safe and possible. In situations where a change in school is unavoidable, CASA volunteers are dedicated to helping to ensure a smooth transition between schools, lessening the negative impact of the school move on the child.

“Students living in foster care face unique challenges, but they deserve every opportunity to thrive just like their classmates,” said Hughes. “Our CASA volunteers can help by providing a consistent presence, communicating with teachers, advocating for needed services, and ensuring the children they serve are set up to succeed.”

For more info, visit www.casaok.org or contact Jenny Crosby at jenny@casaok.org or 918-686-8199.