Thursday, Jun 15, 2017
For many children, Father’s Day means giving gifts, enjoying traditions and making memories with their fathers, grandfathers and father figures. However, for children in the foster care system, this day can be a painful reminder of their past.
Unfortunately, many children in foster care do not have a reliable father figure or positive male role model in their lives. Once removed from their homes due to evidence of abuse or neglect, these children are sometimes placed in state care far away from their loved ones and community, creating a constant cycle of uncertainty.
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteers can help provide much-needed stability for these children. CASA volunteers are everyday people who are specially trained and appointed by judges to advocate for children in the foster care system.
“In addition to advocating for children’s unique needs, CASA strives to provide a consistent adult presence for children while they are navigating the child welfare system,” said Suzanne Hughes, executive director of CASA for Children. “Our volunteers’ main goal is to help get the children they serve out of the temporary foster care system and into a safe, permanent home as quickly as possible – so that they never have to spend another Father’s Day without a caring parental figure.”
Children who have CASA volunteers typically spend less time in foster care, receive more services needed to heal, and perform better academically.
“We need more involved members of the community, especially men, to step up and make a difference by becoming that present and engaged adult in a child’s life,” said Hughes.
Every child deserves a CASA volunteer to advocate for their best interests, just as every child should have a reason to celebrate Father’s Day.
For more information, visit www.casaok.org or call (918) 686-8199.