CASA of Denton County is experiencing a crisis that directly impacts the lives of vulnerable children in our community. The number of active CASA volunteers has drastically declined, leaving too many children without the dedicated one-on-one advocacy they need. In 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, CASA had 267 active volunteers that year. As of today, that number has dropped to only 156, creating a severe shortage of volunteers available to serve the increasing number of children entering the child welfare system.
Right now, 57 children in 30 cases are being served by CASA’s casework staff due to the shortage of volunteers. While CASA staff members are highly trained professionals, their primary role is to support and guide volunteers—not to serve as advocates themselves. The nature of their workload can prevent them from providing the same level of individualized, one-on-one advocacy that a CASA volunteer can offer. We know that nobody serves children better in this role than a caring, committed volunteer from their own community.
The demand for CASA advocacy continues to grow. During January and February 2024, CASA was appointed to serve 33 new children in 19 new cases. In January and February of this year, a total of 47 new children across 24 new cases have been assigned to CASA. Despite the rising need, the decreasing number of volunteers means our devoted staff is being stretched thin. CASA of Denton County has proudly served 100% of the children appointed to them by the court since 2021, but without an increase in volunteers, this commitment may become difficult to maintain.
CASA advocates play a vital role in the lives of children who have suffered abuse and neglect. They provide stability, speak up for the child’s best interests in court, and ensure that each child receives the support they need to thrive.
Cheri Fry, Program Director for CASA of Denton County, explains the impact: “The job of our casework staff is to support our volunteers who serve the children. When they have to take on cases of their own, it takes away from the time they spend supporting our CASA volunteers. During the third week of February, every casework staff had to take on one case; the following week, they all had to take on one more case. The early stage of a case is critical for a child in crisis and also requires a heavy workload, so it is tough for our staff to continue the level of quality volunteer support and casework support that is needed.” Right now, our casework staff spend an average of one day a week directly working on cases that do not have a CASA volunteer assigned. The solution is clear: We need more CASA volunteers. Our next New Advocate Training begins on April 11, and our goal is to have at least 20 new advocates ready to step in and make a difference. The first step is simple—attend a one-hour Info Session to learn about the role of a CASA volunteer. If you’ve ever considered advocating for a child in need, now is the time. These children need someone by their side, and you can be the one to speak up for them and make a difference in the life of a family and a community.
To learn more about becoming a CASA advocate volunteer, please contact our Volunteer Manager, Beth Potter, at bpotter@casadenton.org, or sign up to attend an Info Session below.
