California CASA, the private, nonprofit organization connecting the 44 local Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) programs throughout the state of California, is honored that Senator Josh Newman (CA Senate District 29) put forth the senate resolution SCR 106, declaring May 2, 2022, as CASA Appreciation Day in California. This is an opportunity for state and local government, California CASA, local CASA programs, other community organizations, and the public to honor and thank the dedicated CASA volunteers who ensure children and youth in the foster care system have their voices heard every day. Along with the May 2nd proclamation, the entire month of May will be full of activities at local CASA programs to thank their volunteers and highlight the impact that they are making in the lives of the children they advocate for. All Californians are invited to find out more about the critical role a CASA volunteer plays in the lives of young people and hopefully become inspired to contribute their time and resources to support children in foster care. Throughout California, there are nearly 10,000 volunteer CASAs providing court advocacy and dedicated support to 12,947 foster children and youth.
To recognize the dedication and resilience of volunteer court advocates nationwide, the California State Legislature passed SCR 106, introduced by State Senator Josh Newman (who represents portions of Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino Counties).
The bill text reads:
Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 106—Relative to CASA Appreciation Day.
WHEREAS, All children have the right to a home with loving people to care for them, but each year in the United States, hundreds of thousands of children are abused, neglected, or abandoned by their families. These children are removed from their homes, placed in foster care or institutions, and eventually may end up as wards of the court; and WHEREAS, A judge has the power to decide the future for these children and whether they should remain in foster care, be reunited with parents, or adopted, but in many cases, the children become victims for a second time, lost in an overburdened child welfare system that cannot pay close attention to each child; and WHEREAS, CASA Appreciation Day recognizes the important role played by Court Appointed Special Advocate for children (CASA) volunteers. These trained community volunteers are appointed by a judge as officers of the court to speak up for children in juvenile court and to help humanize for these children the often frightening and confusing child welfare and legal systems; and WHEREAS, Approximately 80,000 of California’s children are living in foster care because they have been abused, neglected, or abandoned. In 2021, 10,105 CASA volunteers supported 12,947 foster children in California. These CASA volunteers play an important role in their lives by getting to know each child and letting the judge and others in the child welfare system understand the child’s perspective and needs; and WHEREAS, The CASA mission is to ensure consistency and support for children in the foster care system through the use of volunteer advocates advancing the best interests of each child; and WHEREAS, The CASA vision is one where every Californian child in need is appointed a CASA volunteer to champion that<br>child without compromise, in court, in school, and in the community, putting them on the path to a safe and permanent home; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly hereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby declares that May 2, 2022, is recognized as CASA Appreciation Day in California; and be it further Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.