Editor’s Note: Originally published August 25, 2020. Republished January 25, 2021. The following article is partnered content. If you'd like to partner with Live in Everett to reach our audience, please inquire here.

Snohomish County is a beautiful and close-knit community. We support each other, we stand up for each other and care for one another. It’s easy to forget that there are families among us who are struggling. Now more than ever, we need community members like you. Snohomish County has hundreds of children with uncertain futures who need advocates to speak up for their best interests. There are approximately 300 children in Snohomish County who need a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) and don’t have one. 

The child welfare system is in a state of crisis. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, parents are now under more stress, which historically fuels a rise in cases of child abuse and neglect. At the same time, children are no longer in the public eye—they are not at schools or daycare, or in other locations where caring individuals may be able to spot signs of abuse and neglect. Resources are strained and vital services for children and their parents are less accessible. Additionally, children who are already placed out of the home are experiencing decreases in visits with their parents, siblings, and extended families. You can help.

Becoming a CASA volunteer is an investment of time, energy and heart. CASAs are volunteers appointed by the court to advocate for a child’s best interests. CASA volunteers form a one-on-one relationship with a child and get the full picture of the case. As an advocate for a vulnerable child, the CASA speaks with individuals involved in the child’s life so they can make objective recommendations to the court regarding the child’s future, such as being reunified with their parents, living with relatives, guardianship or adoption. Judges rely on CASA volunteers to be their eyes and ears on a child’s case.

CASAs do not have to be a lawyer or social worker to be a volunteer. CASA volunteers are everyday people. We seek to recruit, train and support quality volunteers who reflect the diversity of the population we serve. Volunteers from all cultures, professions, ethnic and educational backgrounds are encouraged to apply. 

Children fare better with a CASA volunteer by their side. In an overburdened social welfare system, children experiencing abuse and neglect often slip through the cracks. Studies have shown children with a CASA are more likely to find a safe, permanent home; more likely to do better in school; and half as likely to re-enter the foster care system. A child with a CASA volunteer is more likely to have better outcomes over time and to report significantly higher levels of hope for the future. 

You can be part of something truly special and make a lifelong difference in a child’s life. Applications to become a CASA volunteer are available on our website. If you are interested in learning more, join us at an upcoming informational session or feel free to contact our office directly at CASA@snoco.org or (425) 388-7854.

Upcoming Informational Sessions:

• Friday, February 5 from noon to 1 p.m.

• Wednesday, February 24 from 5:30 to 6:30 P.m.

Every child needs a voice. Become a CASA volunteer today and speak up for a foster child in need.

Author Lindsay Cortes works for CASA.