Championing Every Child
California CASA Impact Report FY2023/2024
The mission of California CASA is to ensure that children and youth in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems have both a voice and the services they need to thrive. We achieve this by strengthening and empowering California’s network of local CASA programs and advocating for effective child welfare policies and practices.
DEAR FRIENDS,
In the past year, the California Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association has made significant strides in expanding our network’s capacity to provide one-to-one and systemic advocacy for children and youth in foster care. Together with the support of local communities, the state of California, generous individuals, and foundation partners, we have taken meaningful steps toward a brighter future for our most vulnerable children. Thank you for being an important part of our organization by supporting us in a variety of ways!
The heart of our mission is ensuring every child has the support of a Court Appointed Special Advocate. In 2023, 8,012 CASA volunteers served 11,261 youth across California, contributing 379,672 hours valued at $14,659,136. We are proud of these collective efforts, but there is more work to do, as California has the largest number of children in foster care in the nation.
We solidified our commitment to helping children and families through a new three-year strategic plan, aiming to provide a CASA volunteer for every child in foster care who needs one, and expanding our work to support youth in the juvenile justice system. California CASA-sponsored research correlated the value of CASA volunteers for these youth, leading to gains in self-efficacy, educational success, and reduced recidivism rates.
The strength of our network continues to grow. This year, Child Advocates of Placer County expanded services to Yuba County, making it the 52nd county in California to offer CASA volunteers! We introduced new services such as a Language Line translation service and the E-Learning Center to meet the diverse needs of our communities. Volunteer recruitment was bolstered by a statewide advertising campaign, encouraging individuals to become volunteers “Just by Being You” and a volunteer recruitment specialist worked with our local programs to create individual plans for recruitment. We also launched local advocacy teams to strengthen engagement with legislators at the grassroots level and continued to provide human resource services, strategic planning consultation, trainings, and technical assistance.
Significantly, California CASA allocated a second round of $16 million in grants to our 44 local programs. These funds, ranging from $8,500 to $3,295,807 with an average grant of $363,636, have strengthened local CASA programs’ ability to serve even more youth by improving recruitment, training, and innovation.
Despite a challenging budget year, the state legislature and Governor Newsom approved $20 million in funding for the CASA network, completing a three-year $60 million allocation from the 2022 Budget Act. California CASA led advocacy efforts to secure this funding with a Day at the Capitol, support letters, and testimony. We remain deeply grateful for the state’s prioritization of CASA volunteers and the youth we serve, and we continue to work towards long-term, sustainable funding.
Thank you for your continued support and commitment to our vision! Together, we are making a significant difference in the lives of thousands of children and youth across California, providing them hope, stability, and opportunity.
With heartfelt appreciation,
Sharon M. Lawrence, Esq. Chief Executive Officer
Michelle Griffin Board Chair, FY2023/2024
CALIFORNIA CASA
As the statewide association, California CASA supports the 44 local programs with advocacy at the state level, funding opportunities, specialized training for staff and volunteers, statewide volunteer recruitment and awareness campaigns, shared resources, networking, and capacity building.
LOCAL CASA PROGRAMS
In 52 counties where 99% of the youth in foster care reside, CASA programs recruit, train, and supervise CASA volunteers to provide personalized, one-to-one support, in the best interests of youth in foster care.
CASA VOLUNTEERS
Appointed by a judge, trained CASA volunteers work with the child’s team to ensure a child has the appropriate services and judges have all the information they need to make the most well-informed decisions for each child to reach a safe, permanent home.
THE BENEFITS OF CHAMPIONING EVERY CHILD
A child in foster care with the support of a CASA is more likely to:
Achieve a permanent home Receive vital services in a timely manner
Not re-enter the child welfare system
Report higher levels of hope
Be on track to graduate from high school
Have long-term connections to loved ones
CALIFORNIA CASA NETWORK IMPACT IN 2023
11,261
*Children in Foster Care and Juvenile Justice Served by the California CASA Network
44 Local CASA Programs
67,229
**Children in Foster Care in California
52 Counties Served by Local Programs
8,012 Active CASA Volunteers
524 Staff Members Employed by CASA Programs
379,672
Total Hours Contributed by CASA Volunteers
473 Local CASA Program Board Members
AMPLIFYING LOCAL CASA PROGRAM IMPACT
$14,659,136
***Total Value of Service Hours
$63,832,000
Total Annual Revenue of all Local CASA Programs Statewide
$16,000,000 CALIFORNIA CASA GRANTS awarded to 44 CASA programs
****$20,794,883 VALUE OF PROGRAM SERVICES from California CASA to CASA programs
$5,748,000 VICTIMS OF CRIME ACT FUNDS received by CASA programs
$2,713,000 CALIFORNIA JUDICIAL COUNCIL FUNDING allocated to CASA programs
3,590 HOURS OF CUSTOMIZED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE provided by California CASA
3,662 PARTICIPANTS in California CASA TRAININGS
2,946 VOLUNTEER INQUIRIES generated for local programs
* Based on local programs reporting and re-verified by California CASA (does not include children on wait lists)
** Children and Non-Minor Dependents (NMD) in Dependency in California, child welfare county, CY2023 CA Dept. of Social Services (CWS/CMS 2023Q4)
*** Independent Sector Rate for California, 2024: $38.61/hour X total hours contributed
**** Includes $16 million in grants awarded to local programs
CALIFORNIA CASA’S YEAR IN REVIEW
October 2023 Language Line and E-Learning Center
August 2023 Executive Director Conference
Executive Directors/CEOs of local programs convened in Costa Mesa to learn from inspirational speakers and peers on the theme of “Organizational Culture.”
A Language Line which translates 290 languages for local program staff and an E-Learning Center with online courses for CASA volunteers to meet annual continuing education requirements, were created to reduce barriers and support diverse needs.
December 2023
$16 Million in Program Grants
October 2023
New Three-Year Strategic Plan
The California CASA Board of Directors reaffirmed our vision to provide the support of a CASA volunteer to every child in foster care who needs one and broadened the mission to include youth in the juvenile justice system in its new strategic plan.
California CASA awarded a second round of $16 million in grants to bolster the 44 local CASA programs. Every program in the state received funding, with the average grant totaling $363,636.
February 6, 2024 Day at the Capitol
September 2023 Legislative Advocacy Teams
Staff, volunteers, and community members, including those with lived experience, from six local CASA programs were recruited and trained to engage with legislators at the grassroots level.
December 2023
New Yuba County CASA Services
Child Advocates of Placer County expanded its program to Yuba County, making it the 52nd county in the state to offer CASA volunteers.
January 2024 DEI Task Force
Monthly meetings of the statewide DEI Task Force kicked off with customized local CASA program training and support. Monthly webinars for the network and volunteers included the topics of Unconscious Bias, Understanding Neurodivergence and ADHD, Suicide Prevention in the LGBTQ+ Community, and Tribal Relationships.
Local CASA program leaders, volunteers, youth formerly in foster care, and California CASA staff and Board members, briefed 25 legislators on the importance of advocacy for youth in foster care and the need for sustained funding.
April 2024 Community Engagement Events: Granite Bay and San
Francisco
Guest speaker Andrew Bridge, children’s rights lawyer and bestselling New York Times author, shared his personal experience navigating California’s foster care system with community members.
May 2024 Statewide Volunteer Advertising Campaign
An advertising campaign to recruit thousands of new volunteers “Just by Being You” was launched on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, streaming TV and audio, and other media outlets across the state.
April 18, 2024 CASA Appreciation Day
Senator Josh Newman (District 29) sponsored the “CASA Appreciation Day” resolution at the State Capitol, recognizing the tireless efforts of thousands of CASA volunteers around the state who support more than 12,000 children and youth in foster care.
May 2024 Community Engagement Event: Los Angeles
The Honorable Carol Isackson (Ret.), California CASA’s Senior Policy Advisor and a former San Diego Superior Court Judge, and Wende Julien, Esq., a California CASA Board Member and Executive Director of the Probation Oversight Commission of Los Angeles County, spoke to community members on how CASA volunteers can support youth in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.
June 2024 $20 Million in State Funding
The Legislature and Governor approved $20 million in funding to the CASA network, the third year of funding of a three-year $60 million allocation to expand the capacity and services of all local CASA programs statewide to support more youth in foster care.
FINANCIAL OVERVIEW
California CASA’s budget reflects the second year of $20 million of state funding, with 80% directly awarded to local CASA programs in $16 million in grants and $4 million invested in network capacity building provided by California CASA. We are on an ambitious mission to significantly increase philanthropic revenue to reach our goal of serving 50,000 children and youth in the child welfare system with a CASA volunteer.
STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES | FOR THE FISCAL YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2024 AND JUNE 30, 2023
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
REVENUES
& SUPPORT FY2023/2024
CHILDREN SERVED IN CALIFORNIA
663-8440 info@californiacasa.org www.californiacasa.org