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Making a Difference...
CASA: Advocates for Children
of New York State (CASANYS) is
the State Association of a network of affiliate programs whose trained
volunteers are appointed by Family Court judges to advocate for the
best interest of children in cases of abuse and neglect.
These local programs, operating in 36 New York State counties, recruit,
train and supervise nearly 834 volunteers advocating for children in
the court and welfare system.
Through public awareness activities, program evaluation, training and
technical assistance, information and funding support, CASA: Advocates
for Children of New York State helps
local CASA programs thrive.
Noteworthy . . .
May is Foster Care Month
The objective: To
make a difference in the life of a child in foster care.
Time frame: Minutes, hours, or weeks.
The game plan: Get involved, educate yourself and your
community, and utilize your spare time.
The result: Changing a lifetime.
This
May marks the 20th annual foster care awareness campaign and is focused
on visibility of the issues, outreach, and recruiting individuals and
families to provide an essential resource, their support. With
513,000 American children and youth in foster care the pressing need
for nurturing adults willing to provide guidance and stability for
troubled youth cannot be ignored or minimized. May is a time
to
celebrate the individuals and the families who
have taken on the
responsibility of guiding children in foster care through childhood in
hopes of a promising and a prosperous future. Research
indicates
that children involved with the foster care system have a higher
probability of enduring obstacles such as homelessness, unemployment,
and incarceration compared to children in the general public.
Although statistics are not on their side these children have the
potential to overcome these obstacles with the aid of developing
lasting stable relationships with nurturing adults. Success
stories such as that of All-Pro linebacker Keith Bullock, award-winning
blues singer Janiva Magness, and motivational speaker and author Regina
Louise prove the potential of the power of the connection between
driven children and supporting adults. (Subscribe to our monthly newsletter, Direct From Albany, for more about Foster Care Month and a wealth of other information about
the New York State CASA network. Send an e-mail to newsletter@casanys.org
with the word “subscribe” in the subject line.)
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