Que significa CASA?

What does CASA mean? To those of us who are familiar with the non-for-profit word it means; Court Appointed Special Advocate. However, to those individuals who may hear or read the word for the first time with a limited English speaking ability-CASA means house or home in Spanish. Therefore, one may perceive CASA as having it’s own identity with a diverse origin...

According to the Center for Social Welfare Research at the University of Washington; Identity is in some sense ethnic in that we have diverse origins and those origins are related to how we are perceived and treated by others.

When the CASA board members received their informational packet about CASA they may have read the phrases “Make a difference in a child’s life” or “Be the voice; be the difference.” The word difference is also associated with the word “Diversity” even though we belong to the human race; each of us has our own identity.

One of the diversity handouts that board members received by the CASA director was a cover story entitled “Uneven Ground” written by Lisette Austin, a freelance writer. She indicated and writes that the first CASA program recognized the need for both culturally competent and diverse volunteers, even as it was forming in 1976. Her research noted that not all children in foster care stand on equal ground. Minority children receive fewer supportive services that promote stability, safety and general well being. Approximately 90% of CASA volunteers are Caucasian while serving 60% of children that are minorities on a national level.

Ultimately, the emphasis is to focus on a better representation from communities of multicultural backgrounds to understand and respond to the needs of those children that CASA is serving. Ms. Austin also wrote a success story about Kadia Edwards, a former foster child that had this to say about her former CASA advocate. "When I met my advocate at age 14, I said, Your White-I’m Black there’s no way we can have anything in common.” I tried everything to push her out of my life, but she showed a lot of patience, and I eventually came to trust her and opened up. My advocate gave me books that I have on my shelf to this day "African-American Wisdom" a book of quotations and proverbs and "In the company of my sisters" a book about Black Women and Self-Esteem. She also encouraged me to go to Howard University where I could not only get a good education but also learn more about my culture. Eventually, Kadia Edwards graduated from Duke University while sharing her comments with Lisette Austin.

In February of 2007, Judy Guenseth, Director of Casa was pro-active in pursuing a Diversity Plan for CASA of Knox County Illinois by emailing all CASA Board members with several examples of other CASA diversity plans in place that Illinois CASA had initiated. The diversity plans were reviewed and voted by the Board members and submitted to Illinois CASA. In 2007; Judy also provided a diversity training session conducted by Tony Franklin, Human Relations Associate Inc. for advocates and board members. Judy has implemented several diversity exercises and distributed handouts during our Board meetings. Diversity training is a continuing on- going process. One must not only speak about diversity; but also ensure that the strategic plan is put into motion. In order for CASA volunteers to represent the bests interests of the children in the juvenile and family court proceedings; the volunteers must be sensitive to the child’s heritage, ethnicity and identity while Knox County CASA is actively seeking to meet the demographics of those families served in a proactive communication effort. If you are interested in volunteering your services as an advocate or a board member of the CASA program, please check out their website;
www.casaofknoxco.com