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Court Appointed Special Advocate

CASA of Caroline

Be the Sweetheart Every Child Needs

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Valentine’s Day often brings to mind hearts, flowers, chocolates, and expressions of love in handwritten notes. While these traditions are lovely, have you ever thought about celebrating the day in a way that leaves a lasting impact on someone else’s life? This year, consider sharing your love in a way that makes a real difference. Volunteering around Valentine’s Day offers an opportunity to show compassion, kindness, and generosity to those who need it most. These qualities are at the heart of what CASA volunteers do every day. Across the country, more than 238,000 children and youth in foster care have the steady support of a CASA advocate by their side. Yet, there are still more than 400,000 children in foster care without someone to ensure their voice is heard. Many of these children are too young to speak up for themselves, though their feelings and needs are just as profound as those of older children.

As a CASA volunteer, you could be the caring adult who offers comfort, guidance, and advocacy to a child experiencing uncertainty. Imagine the joy on a young child’s face when they see you arrive, knowing that your presence brings them a sense of security and hope. Your role as a CASA volunteer is to understand the child’s unique story by connecting with their family, foster caregivers, teachers, medical professionals, social workers, and others involved in their life. Advocates work closely
with the court to ensure that every decision made is in the child’s best interest.

CASA volunteers come from diverse backgrounds, united by a shared commitment to improving the lives of children. By choosing to advocate, you’re not only changing a child’s present circumstances but also shaping a brighter future. Your compassion and dedication can help a child break free from cycles of pain and uncertainty and lead them toward stability and success.

This Valentine’s Day, let love inspire action. Make the choice to share your time, your care, and your heart with a child in need. You’ll find that the rewards of volunteering are immeasurable. Better yet, consider volunteering alongside someone close to you, like a spouse, sibling, or friend, and join as a CASA team. CASA of Caroline is now accepting applications for its next pre-service training class, starting later this month. For more details or to apply, visit www.carolinecasa.org. Take the first step today—because every child deserves a voice, and that voice could be yours.

The Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention funded this project under sub-award number CJAC-2019-0004 and VOCA-2018-0063. All points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position of any State or Federal Agency. This project is supported by a grant from the Maryland Judiciary’s Administrative Office of the Courts number AOC-G20CA0225