CASA FOR CHILDREN OF ESSEX COUNTY INC
212 WASHINGTON STREET 912, NEWARK, NJ 07102 www.casaessex.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: CASA OF ESSEX COUNTY RECRUITS AND TRAINS VOLUNTEERS TO SPEAK UP FOR THE BEST INTERESTS OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THEIR HOME BECAUSE OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT - TO GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO THRIVE WHILE IN FOSTER CARE AND MOVE TO A SAFE AND PERMANENT HOME AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

TRAIN AND EMPOWER COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS TO SPEAK-UP AND PROMOTE THE WELFARE OF FOSTER CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES BECAUSE OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT BY PROVIDING A SAFETY NET OF SUPPORT, ADVOCACY AND MENTORSHIP.

FOUNDED IN 1986, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, CASA FOR CHILDREN OF ESSEX COUNTY (CASA) OF ESSEX COUNTY ADVOCATES FOR CHILDREN IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM BY CONNECTING CHILDREN WITH VOLUNTEERS WHO 1) ACT AS THE EYES AND EARS OF JUDGES AND THE NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF CHILD PROTECTION AND PERMANENCY (DCP&P) TO ENSURE CHILDRENS NEEDS ARE BEING MET AND 2) PROVIDE STABILITY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN AN OVERBURDENED AND OFTEN UNSTABLE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. CASA VOLUNTEERS ADVOCATE FOR THEIR APPOINTED CHILDS WELLBEING ACROSS A SPECTRUM OF NEEDS, RANGING FROM CONNECTING CHILDREN WITH MEDICAL CARE AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT TO HELPING CHILDREN PURSUE HOBBIES. THERE ARE MORE THAN 1,200 YOUTH IN FOSTER CARE IN ESSEX COUNTY ALONE, THE MOST OF ANY COUNTY IN NEW JERSEY. NEARLY 80% ARE BLACK OR AFRICAN AMERICAN AND FACE STAGGERING INEQUITIES IN EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE, THE LAW AND CHILD WELFARE.DURING COVID-19, CASA VOLUNTEERS PLAYED AN EVEN MORE CRITICAL ROLE IN THE LIVES OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE THEY WORK WITH THE PANDEMIC HAS POSED MYRIAD CHALLENGES FOR CHILDREN IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, INCLUDING MORE FREQUENT CHANGES IN CHILDRENS PLACEMENTS, UNRELIABLE ACCESS TO SCHOOL VIA REMOTE LEARNING, AND GREATER FOOD INSECURITY.PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES PRESENTED DO NOT INCLUDE $232,023 DONATED IN VOLUNTEER SERVICES, BASED ON NJS VOLUNTEER VALUE DETERMINED BY THE INDEPENDENT SECTOR CALCULATED AT $27.49 PER HOUR OF SERVICE.,

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