This month we wanted to spotlight CASA of Lancaster County as they gear up for their SuperHero 5K and Kids Fun Run.
CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate and they exist to support children in need who have no adult to speak for them in court. Without an adult, children can be tossed around the foster care system, transferring homes on average of three times. This insecurity and lack of focused care can do long-term damage to a child’s well being and severely affect their ability in school and in life to thrive.
It’s a sad reality, but even in Lancaster there are many children in need of a safe and permanent home every day. Every single day children fall victim to abuse, neglect, and face homelessness. On their own it is more than a challenge to find a secure permanent loving home and likely to have a prolonged season of foster care and instability. CASA of Lancaster exists to ensure that is not the doomed fate of our local abused and neglected children.
In Lancaster, CASA works very hard to employ the staff of their non-profit to support the volunteers and coordination needed to provide court advocates. For every one staff member, CASA can support up to 30 volunteers who in turn can advocate for up to 75 children and families.
With a CASA on a child’s side they are more likely to find a permanent home, half as likely to re-enter foster care, and more likely to succeed in school. CASA is indeed making an impact on Lancaster through finding permanent safe homes and creating brighter futures for our children in need. The organization’s work is invaluable in each child’s life that they touch.
We are grateful for their work and delighted to support their upcoming SuperHero 5k and Kids fun run on June 11. If you are interested in the event you can visit: http://www.superhero5klancaster.org/ to learn more as well as http://www.casalancaster.org/ to learn about the organization.