CASA of New Jersey: The Voice of the Children

​CASA, also known as the first Court Appointed Special Advocates program is a national program connected to the Victim of Child Abuse Act. This program was created to assist foster children through their transitions into living with a foster family. CASA works with the family court system to provide foster children with the necessary tools to live a healthy life. CASA accepts volunteers to serve as advocates for the children. They are responsible for having monthly check-ins with the child and their foster family. CASA advocates also speak with health professionals and the child’s school officials to make sure they are progressing. CASA of New Jersey holds CASA divisions in every county of New Jersey. In the Essex County Division, Carol Costello is the volunteer director who matches very child within CASA’s system with an advocate. CASA of New Jersey advocate, Kasanu Williams has dealt with 3 cases while volunteering with the program. She explained that she has come in contact with a children who have experienced abuse or neglect in their homes. These children were given to CASA and through the Division of Youth and Family Services and a ruling in Family Court. Williams stated, “We are the voice of the children, because they cannot defend themselves.” As a CASA advocate, Williams explained that CASA only extends their service to the foster parents and their foster families. The foster child’s biological family is not assisted by CASA. Resources for the biological family are provided through Family Court.

​Unlike now caring for a foster child was much more challenging before programs like CASA were used. Sharon Ragin’s, is an ex-foster parent of 11 years. She served as a foster parent from 1983 until 1991 to 8 foster children. She explained that as a foster parent during this time, she was only familiar with the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS). During her time as a foster parent there were no advocates for the child besides the foster parent. DYFS representatives were only present to serve as transportation for the child during DYFS holiday parties and the child’s visit with the biological parents. For the children that did have disabilities Ms. Ragin’s was able to care for the child herself because of her experience in nursing. Overall, she described her experience as a foster parent as challenging without help at times. She stated, “If CASA was around during my time as a foster parent it would have helped me a lot.” Ms. Ragin’s was able to become very familiar with ASA because her daughter is a volunteer for the program. CASA is a program that has proved to be effective for the foster parents children and families who are assisted by it. They have helped to defend the welfare of children who have experienced an unhealthy home life. But CASA has also provided many foster families with the tools they need to create a healthy and happy home for their foster children.