Issues

Education of children in foster care is a major concern for CASA, both on a National and State level.  Data validates that concern.

In the summer issue of National Casa's Connection author Lynette Mullen points out that "many children enter foster care already behind academically, often with undetected learning or other disabilities and the physical and emotional scars of the abuse and neglect that brought them to foster care."

National CASA is interested in seeing that CASA advocates receive the type of training that will help them advocate more effectively in educational matters and to better understand the needs of their CASA children.

 “As an organization we are interested in educational outcomes for children in foster care and would like to provide more training for our advocates,” stated Tracy Flynn, Training Director for National CASA. Flynn said that National CASA is in the process of developing continuing education training curricula that addresses education as a critical component of a child’s life. “This training will be recommended as a topic of continuing education designed to improve the outcomes for children in foster care.” Flynn also notes that “Because state laws vary, the curriculum will offer general direction that can be adapted to address individual program policies, legal constraints and philosophies.”