Celebrating 25 Years of CASA in Alaska
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Alaska CASA program. The Office of Public Advocacy would like to extend a very special thanks to the hundreds of community members who, since 1987, have given so much of their time and hearts serving as CASA volunteers for Alaska's foster children and youth. Thanks goes out as well to the many generous Alaskans who have supported the CASA program in so many other ways.
We enjoyed a great celebration of this special milestone at the 2012 Alaska CASA/GAL Conference, April 20-21, at the Sheraton Anchorage Hotel. Read more.
Each year
thousands of
Alaska
children are victims of physical or sexual abuse, neglect or abandonment.
Hundreds of these children are thrust into court through no fault of their own
and become part of the overburdened state child protection system. Their lives
are disrupted. Their futures uncertain.
With
all the facts and figures, it's tough to remember the human side of child abuse
and neglect. We tend to stereotype the victims or deny any connection between
them and our happy, safe neighborhoods. But all the children that our CASA
programs serve live in Alaska—in your community—and they're not just
statistics. Each one is an individual with a compelling story to share.
The same is true of our volunteers. We take ordinary people with extraordinary
hearts and train them to be able advocates. They are community members who
realize the need to help these children, and each one has a unique background
and talents that he or she brings to the CASA cause.
CASA
volunteers come from all walks of life and experience. Though different in many ways, CASA volunteers have one thing in common…they
come forward to make a difference in the life of a child.
CASA programs throughout Alaska
are looking for caring adults interested in becoming
a
voice for these children.
As a CASA volunteer, you will receive training from
professionals in the legal and children’s services
fields and the complete support of professional CASA
program staff to help you through each case.
Learn more.