When the Shelter in Place Orders went into effect for our state in March there were 148 children and youth being served by CASA of Santa Cruz County. For many children in foster care, their CASA Volunteers may be one of the few consistent adults in their lives. That hasn’t changed with the onset of this global pandemic, and the need for more volunteers to serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates will continue to grow as incidents of abuse and neglect increase during times of stress and uncertainty.
You can help raise awareness about the need for more caring, consistent adults to support local children by displaying a CASA yard sign in your neighborhood. Signs will be available for no contact pick up at CASA, 813 Freedom Blvd. in Watsonville from 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 on Thursday, July 30 and Friday, July 31. Residents can reserve signs at casaofsantacruz.org/lawnsign. CASA requests that you only post signs where you have permission to post.
Court Appointed Special Advocates are everyday people, trained by CASA and then appointed by judges to advocate for the safety of children who have been removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect. CASA volunteers devote a few hours a week getting to know one child and gathering information from everyone involved in the child’s case. Advocates are fully supported by a staff supervisor and are part of a team that works in the best interests of the child.
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To learn more about volunteering as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, please go to casaofsantacruz.org/signup or call (831) 761-2956, ext. 102. All information meetings and the 35 hour training to become an Advocate are currently taking place online.
Resources for individuals and families can be accessed by calling 211 or visiting 211santacruzcounty.org. To make a report of suspected child abuse or neglect, call (831) 454-2273.