In the Face of Tragedy and Transition, Our Mission Remains the Same

Dear Friends, 

Texans are known for being tough. But, this year, we’re seeing in real time just what we’re made of. Last month, our collective strength was tested as floods swept through the Hill Country, taking with them too many lives. For CASA, the loss of children and even volunteers from local programs can feel unbearable. How do we move forward?  

For me – the answer has to be – together.  

That same momentum carries us into back-to-school season, a time that should be filled with hope and fresh starts, but for many children in foster care is instead marked by instability and uncertainty.  Children who grow up in the child welfare system face a number of obstacles and challenges related to education. Nationwide, only about half of youth raised in foster care end up finishing high school, less than 5% graduate from a four-year college and 2-6% complete a degree from a two-year college (nfyi.org). This adversity is due to many factors, including:  

• Frequent school changes as the children move from home to home and sometimes community to community,
•  Cross-system breakdowns that prevent smooth transitions between homes and schools,  
• Deficits in school readiness as a result of frequently traumatic and/or neglectful home experiences prior to entering foster care,  
• Higher rates of school dropout, truancy and disciplinary issues than their peers,  
• Lack of a consistent education advocate to ensure that the children receive all necessary services and supports. 

So how do we stand together and support children these children as they go back to school? If you haven’t already – BECOME A CASA VOLUNTEER.  

Children and youth in foster care deserve an advocate who is invested in their educational success. Check out this story from Child Advocates San Antonio about CASA volunteer Emily, a dedicated advocate who wanted to work with a youth on the college docket. Emily went above and beyond to help her CASA youth successfully complete high school and navigate the complex path toward applying to and enrolling in college. We are deeply grateful for CASA volunteers like Emily who help connect the systems (court, child welfare, school, etc.), strengthen academic success by identifying resources to support the child’s unique needs and challenges, remove barriers to extracurricular activities and more.  

If you already serve as a CASA volunteer, please know that Texas CASA has created many different resources to help you be a well-informed and confident child advocate. Our Educational Advocacy Guidebook looks at how the education and child welfare systems intersect and provides the most up-to-date information and tools to help the reader make a difference in a school setting. The Normalcy Matters Guide discusses what normalcy is, the laws surrounding it and its role as an important concept and direction in child welfare. Also, the newly added e-course Sharpening Skills: Helping Kids Thrive – Behavioral Support and School Advocacy equips CASA volunteers with the knowledge and tools to effectively support children experiencing behavioral and emotional challenges within educational settings. If you want to dig deeper, I encourage you to check out more Best-Interest Advocacy resources here.  

In the face of tragedy and transition, our mission remains the same: to show up consistently, compassionately and without hesitation for the children who need us most.  

Best,