The back-to-school period marks a time of new beginnings and challenges, particularly for the vulnerable children within the child welfare system, grappling with a legacy of neglect or abuse. These youth often face additional hurdles to education that their peers do not. According to a report by National CASA/GAL Association, education serves as a crucial lifeline for these children, offering them both stability and opportunity for a brighter future.
Volunteers from Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and Guardians ad Litem (GAL) play an instrumental role in advocating for the educational needs of these children. They aim to mitigate the academic disruptions caused by frequent school changes and personal trauma. "CASA/GAL volunteers witness the toll of these challenges: missed classes, gaps in knowledge, and emotional upheaval," the National CASA/GAL Association noted. Educational stability is on top of these volunteers' agenda, calling for schools to tailor their support to foster educational continuity for these students.
Going back to class can be a complex affair for these youngsters. CASA/GAL volunteers facilitate the intersection of various systems - including courts, child welfare agencies, and healthcare providers - to synchronize efforts and share essential information. They work closely with educators, identifying and advocating for the needs of the child, both academically and in terms of broader support services that could encompass health care and mentoring. They also attend school meetings and assist in crafting personalized education plans, particularly for those receiving special education services.
Fulfillment in school extends beyond the classroom walls; CASA/GAL volunteers help these kids engage with extracurricular activities too, which can be especially challenging given the instability in their personal lives. The grim statistics point to an educational crisis - only half of the children raised in foster care finish high school and fewer than 5 percent graduate from college. But with volunteers' support, studies have shown improvements in academic and behavioral performance, as children with CASA volunteers are generally more likely to pass their courses and exhibit positive conduct, and are less likely to face expulsion, compared to their non-CASA peers.
Foster care alumni also have avenues for educational advancement thanks to initiatives like the Akerman Academic Excellence Scholarship, facilitated by law firm Akerman LLP, a partner of National CASA/GAL. The program is designed to assist young adults transitioning out of the foster care system on their path to higher education and independent living. Details on the impact of this scholarship on former foster youth are available from National CASA/GAL Association's coverage of CASA of Cook County's efforts to prepare teenagers for life after foster care.
