National CASA Conference 2023

Earlier this summer several of our staff and board members had the opportunity to travel to St. Louis for the 2023 National CASA conference. The conference theme this year, “Strong Families. Strong Futures.” provided participants with opportunities to dive in and learn about the tragic realities of living in foster care and why it is so vitally important to the well-being of the children we serve to support the whole family.

Our staff and board members in attendance shared some of the ideas they felt were most impactful and important to bring home with them.

Children in foster care are more likely to die, go to jail, be sex trafficked, or become pregnant than they are to attend college.

30-35 percent of our youth in care are LGBTQIA+. They are overrepresented and very underserved! -Crystal Vickmark, Executive Director

If we don’t support families, we will inevitably end up with more children in care. There are core beliefs about families (the family is incapable of taking care of their children), youth (they are exhibiting bad behaviors that cause more issues), and child welfare staff (there is not enough support) that create a never-ending cycle. Breaking this cycle at any place will lead to change.

Consistency in case workers is extremely instrumental in successful reunification for children and their families. 74 percent of cases that have only one caseworker throughout the case end in reunification. That number drops to 13 percent if a case has two or more caseworkers. -Jerrilyn Dailey, Board Member

CASA volunteers can help advocate by helping balance power in meetings, at court, or in other environments where children or parents may feel they have to fight, flee, or conform. We have to examine how our families show up to meetings and help them feel comfortable enough to speak about their needs. Otherwise, no matter the service, the problem is not fixed, and further trauma is created.

The biggest gap in the welfare system is communication. Many have been trained in trauma-informed care but not in the necessary communication skills to support children and families. Each person involved in the system should be honest, transparent, empathetic, and have the ability to actively listen. -Eugenia Marks, Advocate Supervisor

It is a privilege and not a right to be in the lives of these children and their families.

One in 100 black children’s parental rights have been terminated since the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997.  This is an astronomical number and one that should help us rethink the timelines that this law put into place.

Every decision we make has the chance to affect generations of people in one family. The recommendations we make on our cases have the potential to affect children and their families, but we must also be mindful that these can also ripple to affect future generations of that family as well. -Shelley Hart, Program Director

We need to address poverty to radically change our approach to child welfare. Changing our mindset to empower, equip, and heal is essential to course-correct the child welfare system.

Our language matters. What we call things has a massive impact on how they are perceived and the action that follows. -Elise de Waal, Board Treasurer

We have to do a better job of seeing the youth we serve as resources, rather than just objects or recipients of our support. When we look to develop or change programs, if we aren’t seeking the input and wisdom of the youth the program is intended for, then we are missing out on valuable insights. Sometimes the best ideas come from brainstorming with youth, rather than just for youth.

If we care about children, we have to also care about their families. When we remove children from their homes, it is always traumatizing for them. Children need belonging first, and then services and treatment second. Relationships and belonging are what make healing happen. -Sadie Perkins, Communications and Older Youth Specialist

Set an intention to read “A Place Called Home” by David Ambroz.

These kids are placed into a system that is not designed for them.

The importance of being an ethical storyteller. We are entrusted with their stories, and we have a responsibility with how and where we share it. -Courtney Voigt, Director of Development and Marketing 

As Shelley pointed out, it truly is a privilege to be in the lives of the children and families we serve in our community. The 2023 National CASA Conference was a powerful reminder of this privilege and inspired us to continue to join in the work of helping build strong families and a stronger future.

Types of Foster Care Placements

Types of Foster Care Placements

Foster care is a crucial safety net for children unable to live with their birth families. It provides a temporary home and supportive environment for children in need, allowing them to heal, grow, and thrive. However, not all foster care placements are created equal. There are various types of foster care placements, each with its unique challenges, benefits, and requirements. Children can be in foster care from birth to age 21, potentially living in many different types of homes throughout their time in the foster care system.

Where does a child go when they enter foster care? 

When a child’s well-being and safety are at risk, the Department of Human Services (DHS) can step in and remove the child from their home. When removed, the child(ren) is assigned a case worker. It is the case worker’s responsibility to find an immediate placement. The first place they look for placement is with a relative. If no relative is available, they look for open foster homes or other placement options. The main priority on the first night is to find a bed for the child(ren) to sleep in for the night.

On average, in our local area, a child spends 15 months in the foster care system but sometimes spends many years in the system. Here in Northwest Arkansas, we have a child who has been in care for over seven years.

Over a child’s time in foster care, they may be placed in various placements based on their needs and the current goal of the case. Throughout the case, the goal can change based on the work put into the parents’ case plan and what is in the best interest of the child. As the child is evaluated by DCFS, CASA, and other parties, recommendations for placement are put forward to the judge. These placements range from less to more restrictive based on various factors. Many of the children in our foster care system have been through traumatic experiences, which dictates various needs for the children. Below is a chart detailing the different types of placements a child can receive.

How does a CASA advocate for where a child should be placed?

CASA volunteers assess cases to understand the child’s individual needs. During the process of understanding the family history and getting to know the child, the CASA volunteer makes recommendations on placement for the child. They consider the best options for the child(ren) and look for opportunities for them to thrive while receiving the necessary level of care.

One issue our CASA volunteers encounter around placements is foster homes not having adequate space for large sibling groups. This causes siblings to be split up and placed in different foster homes. The CASA volunteer is always persistent in advocating for siblings to be placed together or live nearby and help ensure sibling visits occur regularly to maintain their bond.

Throughout the life of the case, CASA volunteers advocate for children to be placed with family members and constantly look for unidentified relatives as potential placement and permanency options. Unfortunately, in many cases, family members are not always an option for the child(ren) to stay with. Some family members do not meet the standards of the department for placement. This can be due to criminal background checks, child maltreatment checks, financial situations, and or inadequate space in the home for the child(ren). When these situations arise, the CASA volunteer looks further into the barrier and assesses whether resources and support could be offered to the family member to help get the placement of the child.

Placement types fall into the following categories and are overseen by the Child Welfare Agency Review Board and Disability Rights Arkansas (DRA). Look through the multiple pages to see each type.

 

Foster Placements

March Blog

Unassuming Heroes:

Crystal’s Twenty-Year Anniversary

at CASA of Northwest Arkansas

Crystal Vickmark has been an integral part of the business side of CASA of Northwest Arkansas during her nearly 20 years as our Executive Director.

For Crystal, though, leading CASA and the children we impact is a much more personal endeavor.

To understand just how personal our mission is for Crystal as she approaches her 20-year anniversary at CASA requires little more than a glance at the pictures in her office. Inside one of those frames rests the face of a young girl, one of nearly 20 children Crystal’s sister fostered at her home in South Dakota.

Crystal was around many of the foster children who came and went under her sister’s care, including the three her sister later adopted. But it was the little girl in the picture in Crystal’s office whom she grew particularly close to and remains a part of her daily thoughts even today.

“I keep it there and look at her every day for inspiration,” Crystal said. “What brings me joy at the office and my job is the people here. It’s knowing that the work we do is so important to so many.”

In celebration of Crystal’s 20-year anniversary at CASA, we asked her to reflect on some of the achievements, challenges, and milestones that she has been a part of leading during her time in Northwest Arkansas.

CASA: What does an Executive Director do?

Crystal: My director role has changed a lot over the past 20 years. When I took the position, it was everything; there was no development/communication staff, no office admin, no team leads, or even a program director. Our advocate supervisors did volunteer training and management, and I did everything else— fundraising, newsletters, letters, payroll, recruiting volunteers, outreach, etc.

Now my role is implementing and monitoring our strategic plans, ensuring that we are making movements toward our goals, and we are following policies and procedures and the law. I have the time and capacity to look forward. Back then, we were just making sure we were moving forward one day at a time.

CASA: What is a memory you have of the true impact a CASA Volunteer can have?

Crystal: There are so many volunteer stories that makes me go, ’wow, this is why we do what we do.’ [In one case], the teenager would act out after school after doing homework, and no one knew why. It turned out he had a second-grade reading level. It was the volunteer that noticed and brought it to everyone’s attention. Without the advocate, I just don’t think it would have been found out.

CASA: What have been some of the largest areas of growth you’ve seen for CASA?

Crystal: The largest areas of growth have been when we were able to purchase and move into our current building. We were able to triple our office space. This allowed us to add on staff, which in turn allowed us to recruit and train more volunteers, ultimately allowing us to serve 100% of children in foster care.

When we hit 100%, I cried. The goal setting was crucial; every day we could see how many more children we had to serve and how many more volunteers we needed to recruit to make it. We had been lasered focused, working towards this goal for so long that when we actually were about to achieve it, it felt like a dream.

CASA: What have been some of the most challenging areas?

Crystal: There were many difficult times over the years, but the pandemic… The pandemic was hard. I could not impart to my staff just how much we worried about their safety and their feelings, our volunteers, and the children we serve.

For the first few months of the pandemic, our leadership focused on our policies and how we can ensure the safety of our staff, volunteers, and children. There was no handbook on how to lead an organization through a global pandemic.

As time went on, the concern over our children didn’t wane. We knew children, who were no longer under the eyes of our teachers, were likely at home in less-than-ideal situations with underemployed and overly stressed parents.

We continually felt the weight of this responsibility of ensuring the safety of all these children.

We did have some positive changes that came out of it though. Like many organizations, we have been able to switch to a hybrid work schedule which has allowed many of our staff to adjust their schedules and create a better work-life balance. Our staff enjoys the freedom to be there for their family when they need them most.

CASA: What have been some of the most surprising areas?

Crystal: I didn’t realize how much community support we would have for our agency. I came in new to the NWA community, to Arkansas, and new to nonprofit leadership.  When attending meetings with other CASA programs, I quickly learned that other programs didn’t have the same opportunities that we did. Northwest Arkansas has a heart for philanthropy!

You just need to ask, and our community is there to support us.

CASA: If someone gave CASA $1 million dollars today, how would you invest it in the organization?

Crystal: Right now, there are three areas I would invest in. A parking lot, staff benefits, and family preservation.

Just before the pandemic, we completed the renovation of our Walker Family Foundation Training Room, which increased our training capacity by more than double, but then we went entirely virtual. As we’ve begun transitioning back to in-person sessions, a major problem became apparent— there are just not enough spaces for guests and volunteers to park onsite safely. So, we’ve had to begin capping our training sessions to ensure the safety of our guests, staff, and presenters.

I would also ensure our staff benefits are what they need to be. Even though we have made big headway over the last few years, I still have hopes of adding some kind of mental health component so that our staff and volunteers can have access to free mental healthcare.

Now that we are serving 100%, the natural next path is helping children stay in the home and not have to be removed. Prior to CASA, I worked in family preservation and feel that adding a CASA volunteer to the mix would add tremendous value to families in crisis, our community, and the child’s future.

CASA: What would next level mean for CASA?

Crystal: We are next level! I feel strongly that our CASA program is one of the top in the nation. On a local level, we are well known and have become an organization that our community wants to be part of. We meet all of our standards with flying colors and are always open to continual improvement.

If we were to add additional staff, it would be someone to help with data and data integrity. There are children we could help even more if we knew their educational, social, or medical baseline.  There are assessments available in our database, but we do not have the capacity to train our staff and advocates to use them at this time.

CASA: What is your superpower?

Crystal: My superpower is being able to hire people and get out of their way. I look for people that have different ideas, people that are excited about the mission and its potential and envisioning it together. There’s no way that this could happen without staff members committed to CASA.

CASA: Please describe our volunteers in one or a few words.

Crystal: Unassuming Heroes. Our advocates do not do this important work for money or fame, but because it’s the right thing to do. Sometimes they may not even realize the impact they make. A younger child might not remember their volunteer’s name as they grow up, or maybe even their actions— but their lives changed because of that volunteer. They were put on another path because of that volunteer. The impact is always there for the child.

Congratulations on 20 years, Crystal!

 

Want to learn more about CASA of NWA?

Interested in finding your own way to make an impact?

Older Youth Specialist

What Makes an Older Youth Specialist at CASA?

CASA of NWA created the Older Youth Specialist role in 2013 after seeing and understanding the gap of how this subset of foster children faces additional barriers due to a number of factors, including their extended time in care.

Older teens in care may be more likely to have experienced compounded trauma. As a result, these youth often face emotional and behavioral challenges that can sometimes be hard to manage. Older youth are also more likely to have switched schools more frequently and may be behind academically. Not only do they lose academic ground by changing schools, but they may also lose valuable time learning each week due to visitations and therapies. This can be the case for any child in foster care, however it’s more likely that older youth in particular have been facing these for a longer period of time, and they are in the middle of making a delicate transition into adulthood. Additionally, an 18+ year-old living on their own may unintentionally become less of an immediate priority in an already strained child welfare system.

These are just a few of the challenges older youth face in foster care, and this is part of why we believe it is essential to have a dedicated staff member looking out for them. According to our current Older Youth Specialist, Sadie Perkins, the “theory or idea behind the position is to be another layer of support for the kids and the advocates who are serving older youth.” It is especially important for newer advocates to know how to navigate the extra barriers older kids are likely to face and know that we have someone to go to specifically for that.

The Older Youth Specialist holds a lot of information pertaining to the services both CASA and The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) offer older youth, as well as local community resources. For example, there are a lot of intricacies regarding independent living, including funding, employment, education, services, etc., that Sadie can walk through with our CASA volunteers and their teens. Due to staffing issues within DCFS, they do not currently have a transitional youth worker. Sadie helps fill this role by providing direct support through staffings— a time for everyone involved to talk about where the kids are, what the challenges are, what they’re working on, and brainstorm solutions. “A lot of it is being available and offering help researching options,” Sadie shared.

CASA of NWA also co-hosts an Independent Living Program (ILP) class which focuses on preparing older youth in foster care on how to transition to living independently. The topics of these classes range, including things such as setting up insurance, doing laundry, grocery shopping on a budget, maintaining a vehicle, financial literacy, and much more. We aim to introduce youth to skills and ideas they may not have been introduced to while in foster care.

Many of these older youth have a history of school transfers, missing school for court, visitations, therapy, and trauma-related issues with their mental health and behavior. It is not uncommon to see 17- or 18-year-olds in 9th or 10th grade because of the impact being in foster care has had on their education. When it comes to access to resources for these youth facing aging out of the system, Sadie can give concrete answers and get the ball rolling on what or who can pay for things.

This is why it is so important for these kids to have a CASA volunteer, someone that makes sure they are not walking alone as they make a significant transition into the rest of their lives. Our Older Youth Specialist is part of a much larger collective effort to give these kids some of the attention they need.

Sadie is motivated by sharing her knowledge with the individuals that work directly with these children, and they have no shortage of appreciation for what she does. A CASA Volunteer recently featured in our Volunteer Spotlight series had this to say about Sadie:

“Absolutely invaluable. The way [Sadie] is available to me has blown my mind with her availability and her willingness to be available to me at all times, no matter what. She has never made me feel as though I should have done something different. I truly feel like she has gotten in the trench with me; she has walked me through every single process up to today.”

That’s what makes an Older Youth Specialist.

Trauma-Informed Advocacy

This months blog post comes from Sadie Perkins, one of our two Advocate Supervisors that are trained as TBRI (Trust-Based Relational Intervention) Practitioners. We believe serving the best interests of children in care begins with having qualified and knowledgeable child welfare experts to guide our CASA Volunteers in their cases, which is why CASA of NWA invests in specialized training for our supervisors.

Trauma-Informed Advocacy

At CASA of Northwest Arkansas, we recognize that every child we work with has been impacted by trauma, which is why we seek to be trauma-informed advocates. But what does it really mean to be trauma-informed? And how should that guide how we interact with and advocate for the children on our cases?  

Trauma, very simply, can be described as a person’s emotional response to a distressing experience. All children in foster care have experienced at least one kind of trauma, in the very act of: being removed from their family. But realistically, the children we work with have likely experienced many traumas, often over long periods of time. For children in foster care, trauma is woven into the very fabric of their upbringing, and this impacts their cognitive, emotional, social, and physical development. In many cases, these traumas happen in the context of relationships, which can be particularly damaging to a child’s ability to grow and develop. At CASA of NWA, however we find hope in the fact that while trauma occurs in the family, healing can follow with the building of strong, positive relationships. And a trauma-informed CASA can be a meaningful part of that healing journey.  

The Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development provides us with three reminders as we seek to work with children in a way that is trauma informed.  

Stay Calm (No Matter What) Children who have experienced trauma often exhibit challenging behaviors and responses as a result. When faced with these responses from a child, our first goal is to remain calm, especially when the child is not calm. These behavioral can be very big and loud, may be inappropriate, can be illogical and even offensive. But a child in crisis cannot be calmed by an adult who is also in crisis. The ability to stay calm in the face of chaos requires us to be mindful of our own internal state and to care for ourselves before and after these difficult interactions. Being the calm in the storm of a child’s trauma response can build trust and connection that can help a child begin to heal.  

See The Need (Behind the Behavior) When we begin to learn about how trauma affects the development of a child, we can begin to shift our perspective from “This child is behaving badly” to “This child is trying to communicate something”. This shift in perspective can transform how we interact with and advocate for children. When we move our focus from “why are they misbehaving?” to “what does this child need right now?” we also begin to move from a pattern of punishing the child for making “bad” choices to a pattern of seeking ways to connect and help meet their needs, which ultimately leads to greater trust and healing.  

Meet the Need (Find a Way) When we begin to develop the mindset that all behavior is an expression of a need, we can better advocate for our CASA kids. If we can see the need behind the behavior, we can seek opportunities for those needs to be consistently met in a way that makes sense to the individual child. And a child who believes they are safe, that they are heard, and that they matter is a child who can begin to thrive. This pattern of consistently seeing and meeting the needs of the child builds trust in the relationship, and it allows children to begin to develop new, and more appropriate coping, social, and communication skills.  

Trauma informed advocacy does not allow for a generalized approach to working with children. It requires us to approach each child as an individual, with a trauma background that we will never fully know. It requires us to interact with and advocate for each child uniquely, as we take the time to learn who they are and what makes sense to them. It requires us to educate ourselves about the impacts of trauma and best practices for working with children who have experienced trauma. And finally, it allows us the privilege to sow seeds of hope and healing through consistent, safe, and meaningful connections.   

Interested in becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate?

Click here to see what it takes!

25 Years of CASA Volunteers

25 Years of CASA Volunteers

 

“It will be hard, and I hope I can handle it. It will be worth it to help the child.” Annette Summers, CASA volunteer, 1997

“I think I look at things through a different lens now… it gave me a deeper sense of empathy for people and what they’re going through. Anytime I hear of something bad… I always wonder how they grew up; was there people there for them.”- Annette Summers, Executive Director of CASA of the Tri-Peaks, 2022

While attending a social work class at the University of Arkansas in 1997, Annette Summers found herself listening to a speaker presenting a brand-new program that was starting up in the area. The representative talked about a significant gap in the child welfare system- one that left children that faced abuse and neglect in a position of isolation. Removed from their home, too many children were navigating foster care, treatment facilities, court hearings, and school all alone and no one looking out solely in their best interest.

But the speaker had a solution. They represented a new organization that after three years of development, was now looking to train volunteers to advocate for these children that otherwise had no consistent adult figures in their life. The volunteers were to be the consistency the children desperately needed. Intrigued at the thought of working with children that sincerely needed help, Annette signed up right away.

That small organization beginning with only twelve volunteers and serving one county in Arkansas went on to train over 1,270 volunteers and serve over 5,000 children in four counties over the next 25 years. CASA of Northwest Arkansas now serves Benton, Washington, Carroll, and Madison counties and serves every child that comes into care in NWA.

“Whatever the speaker said must have really caught my attention and motivated me to sign up right away… It just made me really intrigued about that career path.”

Annette may not have realized then how much that day would come to influence her life, but she does credit much of her eventual interest in child welfare to her experiences as a CASA. At the time she was majoring in Business Management while taking some social work classes. After some time, she ended up finding herself working in child welfare in Arizona, San Francisco, and now Arkansas again. Now in her current role as the Executive Director of CASA of the Tri-Peaks— another CASA office located in Booneville, AR— she’s able to help children in a whole different capacity.

Speaking to how child welfare has changed over the years, Annette says, “Child welfare is a well-intended system. There is a lot more focus on trying to keep children with their families.” Over the years, child welfare has been more recognizing of the trauma pertaining to being removed from a home. “Things are more collaborative now. You’re encouraged to have different opinions between all the different stakeholders during staffings and meetings. Everyone’s voices are usually heard, and the judges are more familiar with CASA now. They look to the CASA reports as valuable information,” shared Annette.

CASA was needed back then because foster care can be lonely and scary as a child. Because of the high caseloads of other stakeholders (caseworkers, Ad Litems, lawyers, etc.), kids may not get the individual attention they need. “[CASA’s] serve that role of being a consistent and safe person for these children,” said Annette. Unfortunately, many of these circumstances still exist today, which is why having a CASA around for a child is just as important as ever.

CASAs are typically asked to serve as long as it takes for their case to be closed. After that, many choose to stay to take on more cases. Of course, life happens, and some volunteers end up departing our organization after a while. On the other hand, we have CASAs who have been with us up to 20 years! Others may choose to leave and come back. While our volunteer retention rate of 77.4% is strong, nobody can volunteer forever.

This is why every month, we host at least two separate CASA 101 Info Sessions, where anybody can come learn about what it means and what it takes to become a CASA volunteer. Next to retaining our volunteers, recruiting new volunteers is top priority. Making sure we can continue serving every single child who is a victim of abuse and neglect in Northwest Arkansas is our ultimate goal, and we can only do this by bringing in new volunteers.

When Annette Summers learned about CASA that day in class, it ended up influencing her life toward child welfare, and eventually leading an entire CASA program in Arkansas. Many other CASAs share how it has changed their lives as well; opening their eyes to things they’ve never seen before and helping children in ways they didn’t think possible. “Not only are you helping a child, in return there’s intrinsic value; it makes you feel good, to know you’re helping somebody. Some things are out of your control but knowing as a CASA you get to be there for them through it all is really important,” says Annette.

If you’re interested in taking the first steps of becoming a CASA like Annette, attend a 101 Info Session to learn more about how you can advocate for a child today.

Going Back to School in Foster Care

Back to School in Foster Care

 

Take a moment to think about your experience in school.

Now try to imagine the life of a child in care going to school.

As you walk down the hallway to your first class of the day, you notice a huge, white poster on the wall between the lockers and what looks to be an art room. You’re tired after visitation with your bio-mom this morning, so it only barely caught your eye. Your backpack is especially heavy today, and you remember you need to stop by the counselor’s office to drop off some paperwork your third caseworker this month gave you last night.  

You try not to think about what she said the other day, about how unlikely it would be for your mother to stop using. “She wasn’t trying to be mean, though,” you think to yourself as you slowly lift your eyes back up to the poster.  

The letters are blue with brown outline, you notice they look like your new school’s team colors. They read,  

SIGN UP THIS WEEK ONLY 
WOODSHOP WITH MR. SMITH
LEARN HOW TO MAKE A SIMPLE TABLE, BEAUTIFUL PICTURE FRAMES,  
CHAIRS, AND MORE! 
INQUIRE IN ROOM 422 BY 4PM THIS FRIDAY

You’ve never really had much interest in that sort of thing, but you remember particularly liking the smell of sawdust when your grandpa used to make all sorts of cool projects.  

“I always wondered how picture frames are made,” you think with a bit of energy, but you realize today is Friday and you have to leave early. You really don’t like when your therapist sets appointments on Fridays. Last week, they told you how you suffer from ‘emotional disturbance,’ which is apparently better than the last diagnosis.  

You’re about to turn 17 and you’re already so behind. “You could just get your GED,” you remember your therapist saying. You don’t even know all your teacher’s names yet, and they certainly don’t know yours. You’ve gotten used to this though, it being your third school this year. You smile at the thought of putting your favorite picture of your mom in a frame you made at school. The thought is nice, at least, for a moment. 

You look back up at the poster one more time. You nod your head, and you start making your way to class.  

 

 

This August in Northwest Arkansas, hundreds of kids in foster care will return to school, many of them will attend a school they’ve never been to before due to placements that can be inconsistent. Some kids are entering or exiting residential or therapeutic treatment facilities, foster homes may be in a different school district, or the family they are with has moved for a variety of reasons.  

In 2021, there were 982 children in foster care in Northwest Arkansas and over 58% of them were of school-age.  

Youth in foster care often lack consistency in their lives, especially when it comes to school. When they are thrust into a new school environment, a multitude of social and emotional issues can take place. While more efforts have been made to increase awareness in schools, most teachers may be unaware that they have a foster child in their classroom and few are trauma informed/trained.

The constant reminder that their peers are living with their biological families may also be present, especially when it comes to the often-limited capacity to participate in extracurricular activities. In addition to visitations with biological parents, they may also have to attend different services throughout their case like Occupational, Speech, or Behavioral Therapy— all of which require time taken away from educational time and extracurricular activities. For example, a child with four hours of visitation and three separate services takes seven hours—not including transportation— away from them each week.  

“You’re in school and you just want to be like everyone else, but you just can’t do any of those things, which can lead to many other issues.” – Amanda Wilkerson, Youth Engagement Specialist 

These potential problems in school are all in addition to the already traumatic experience of suddenly moving homes. The unfamiliarity of a new home takes getting used to by both the children and the foster family, and the new environment alone could cause disruptions at home and in school.  

CASA volunteers work to mitigate these problems. 

Having a compassionate advocate often makes the difference in outcomes as they add consistency back into the lives of kids in care. From obtaining records between schools, to working with school counselors on an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), or ensuring they are getting the care they need elsewhere, are all things our volunteers are trained to do. Volunteers also make recommendations on how to better manage all their requirements and help them still be a kid and a good student.  

Without a CASA, it’s entirely possible for a student in care to simply be unheard, or even left behind. When one person, one volunteer, is dedicated to a child with the purpose of supporting and advocating for their individual needs, their chances of success increase significantly.

Learn how you can get involved to help change a child’s story below. 

2022 National CASA/GAL Conference & 40 Year Anniversary

Gaining Valuable Insight at the 2022 National CASA/GAL Conference

At CASA of Northwest Arkansas, we are constantly learning; whether it be one of the many volunteer and staff training opportunities throughout the year, understanding new changes and developments in our community, or receiving information or guidance from our organization’s national entity, National CASA/GAL. 

This month, we wanted to share our dedication to educating ourselves, ensuring our staff and volunteers are highly trained and well-equipped to handle many of the difficult dynamics associated with foster care and volunteer advocacy. In June, a few members of our staff had the opportunity to fly to Seattle, WA, to attend the 2022 National CASA/GAL Conference. We asked them to share with us some of the things they learned.  

This is what they said:

“I sat in a session titled Supporting healthy racial and ethnic development for the youth of color in the child welfare system. Dr. JaeRan Kim, Assistant Professor of Social Work and Criminal Justice, University of Washington Tacoma. ‘Racial and ethnic identity development is not an “add on” but a critical dimension of a young person’s sense of self and needs to be treated as part of the child’s overall needs.’ This resonated with me because often these needs are not prioritized in the child welfare system. I think as a CASA we can advocate more to make sure children’s needs are being met.” – Kayla

“I learned about a new tool/app that is looking for pilot sights called Connect our Kids, it will aid in finding family members and making those connections. Also connecting with resources in the family’s area. This could potentially be a new tool for our program and advocates to utilize to aid with family preservation. ” – Amanda Q.

“What really touched me the most was listening to those speakers with lived experiences. Hearing their stories, seeing how far they have come, to know that their CASA was a huge part of their lives, that is what lights my fire, and man, was my fire lit. Our kids are the reason I do what I do, day in and day out, and while I am only a piece of their stories, I want to help in every way that I can. Those young people have pushed so incredibly hard to achieve their goals and are truly making a difference.” – Emily

“One thing the conference showed me was just how fortunate I am to be a part of the Northwest Arkansas CASA program/family. My jaw dropped when I heard the issues that programs across the country have to deal with: not getting appointed to cases until after Termination of Parental Rights (TPR), navigating relationships with judges from opposing political parties -who have their own notions about CASA-, some programs only being appointed to the worst cases, lack of resources, etc. One program even informed us the earliest their kiddo could get an emergency mental health appointment is three months out.” – Evan

“…what really stuck with me were the classes on supporting the personal cultural communities of our kids and families. After hearing so many motivating personal stories from the panelists, I am invigorated to bring that energy to my work to better support our local community.” – Rachel

Insightful, Inspiring, and Inquisitive Quotes from the Conference:

“If your dreams don’t scare you, you aren’t dreaming big enough.”

“We need to hear from our youth and families. Those who are closest to the problem are closest to the solution.”

“They don’t need me to feel bad for them, they need me to help them.”

“Bring the humanity to the report, and the freshest perspective.”

“Need to focus on having not just a trauma informed court, but trauma responsive court.”

“Poverty is not neglect, be sure to keep in mind why the initial removal occurred and do not create higher expectations that can’t be achieved.”

Foster Care And Five Things You Can Do

Foster Care

And Five Things You Can Do

CASA of NWA

May 2022 

In observance of National Foster Care Month in May, we at CASA would like to share why and how foster care matters to us. Strengthening relative and kinship foster families is incredibly important in the work we do, and we aim to empower children by providing a dedicated voice to guide and advocate for them. Above all, we prioritize the safety and security of our kids entering, transitioning, or navigating foster care and tumultuous times in the family.  

Few organizations share the unique opportunity of serving such a vulnerable population of children in such a direct way; it’s in our name: C.A.S.A. Court Appointed Special Advocate– meaning we are assigned by court order in juvenile cases involving children facing abuse and neglect.  

What’s especially unique is that not only are our CASAs made up entirely of volunteers, but our organization revolves around providing professional training and development to these volunteers so that we can best equip them to deal with any case, for any and every child. A CASA’s incentive to volunteer their time comes from knowing that each minute they spend with a child is a minute that can be used to improve their situation, and ultimately their life.  

Getting to Foster Care in Arkansas 

If there was one key takeaway about how placement works, it’s that reunification is the number one priority, if possible. This goes for the county judges and DHS, as well as CASA. Judges will deliberate based on a number of different records, documents, and testimonies during adjudication, and the DHS caseworker works tirelessly to understand as many elements of each case as they can-and they have a lot.  

Last year, almost 27,000 investigations took place for abuse and neglect in Arkansas, or around 4,500 per month on average. In our area—made up of Benton, Washington, Carroll, and Madison Counties— this number was almost 5,000 investigations. The majority (54%) of case plan goals in the state work toward reunification, with the next closest being adoption at 24%.  

The process to determine whether termination of parental rights (TPR) is necessary is never an easy one; it is difficult and heavy on everyone involved yet calculated to be in the absolute best interest of the child.   

Finding Permanency  

Family separation can be a significant source of trauma, which is why the next best alternative to reunification would be for a child to receive care from relatives or kinships. Children who are placed with kinship caregivers overall experience less placement disruption, fewer behavioral problems, and fewer mental health disorders. Family and kinship foster care can also serve to create more stability by engaging in shared culture and language. 

In our area, nearly 46% of the cases that our CASAs worked on resulted in reunification with the parent(s). In addition to that, another 21% of our cases found custody with a relative/kinship home. In the state of Arkansas in 2021, 43% are reunified with their parent(s), while 21% of children are formally adopted by relatives.   

While most children will be either reunified with their parent(s) or will find care with family or kinship, this process is far from simple or timely; it can take years depending on the circumstances. For example, of the 982 children in foster care in Northwest Arkansas in 2021, more than 500 of them were in care for over a year, and another 200 for over two years. In the state, it can take an average of 29.1 months (about 2 and a half years) of staying in care before finalizing an adoption, and there are between two and three hundred children that age out of foster care each year.   

Adoptions are always special days for CASA volunteers. By this point, they have endured termination hearings, disclosure meetings with potential adoptive families, and likely difficult conversations if pre-adoptive placements fail. You can only imagine what it would be like to be in court the day your child finds their forever home. 

Is There Anything I Can Do for Foster Care in Arkansas?   

Easy. Here are 5 things that anyone can do, and any one thing could have an enormous impact. 
  1. Know the signs. If no other way of getting involved is an option (that’s okay!), but you still want to support the safety and well-being of your community’s children, educate yourself on the warning signs, and know how to report if you notice anything.
  2. Get involved with CASA. Our CASAs are intricately trained to be equipped to handle any case for any child, and we ensure that each child has someone advocating for them through the entire court process.
  3. Be informed. Having a general understanding of how the system works and keeping up to date with new developments or legislation regarding foster care, juvenile courts, and CASA is an important first step in becoming active in your community and helping a child in need. Here are a few resources to get started:
  4. Get involved in the Arkansas Division of Children and Family Services (ARDCFS)
  5. Become a Foster Parent. 

Social Work Month

For Social Work Month, we asked our licensed social workers, Shelley, Tara, and Abra to share a little bit about the difference they make in the lives of volunteers, children, and families.

Shelley Hart, Program Director

“For me as a social worker, I think I make a difference at CASA by helping advocates to see certain situations differently. Child welfare is never black and white. And emotions are high when a child is involved, certainly. But as we know, children are always better with their families if they are safe and care is taken. So, I help my advocates put things into perspective. Do we have a parent that has a bucketful of unresolved trauma? Let’s make sure there are services in place to work on that. Do we have a parent that is abusing substances? They are not bad people but have made some unfortunate choices. What do they need to do to stay sober? Do we have a house that is messy and unsafe? Does the parent have different standards of cleanliness than the advocate, is the parent depressed, do they lack the skills? How can we help them in that situation? Again, these cases are grey and will not always have the happy ending of a beautiful reunification story. But as a CASA supervisor, I use my social work skills to point my advocates in the direction of a strengths-based advocacy, looking at what people are doing right and how we can build upon that to effect change as opposed to focusing purely on the negative aspects.”

Tara Marcom, Advocate Supervisor and Trauma-Informed Practitioner

“One of the most valuable things I have gained and enjoyed from getting my degree and license in Social Work is truly listening to those that I am working with. Letting people talk, giving them the space and  time to explain their situation, how they are feeling and how they got to this place. I’ve learned that this not only builds trust but helps people feel heard and motivates them to change their situation and want to be a healthier parent emotionally and physically. There are so many times I have met with families and no one has taken the time to just listen and understand, and I think that can be one of the greatest things we can give them. ”

Abra Morgan, Advocate Supervisor

“I think I have helped some of my advocates create healthy boundaries with the families, workers, foster parents they are working with. I think this is impactful because it helps prevent burnout.”