CASA Volunteers are an Unwavering Source of Stability
Child Abuse Prevention Month is one of our biggest opportunities to step up and educate our communities about child abuse and neglect, and how we individually and collectively can help prevent it. As a key child welfare partner, Texas CASA has a deep understanding of the current state of child welfare in Texas, including the challenges facing vulnerable children and families, the gaps in support systems, and the critical role CASA volunteers play in creating safer environments. This knowledge allows us to not only raise awareness but also guide meaningful action that empowers individuals and communities to work together to create lasting, impactful change for children and families across the state.
To help our communities understand the challenges these children face, as well as the crucial support CASA volunteers provide, we want to share three truths we know to be currently undeniable:
- CHILD WELFARE CASES ARE MORE SEVERE THAN EVER
- A STRAINED SYSTEM MEANS GAPS IN CARE
- CASA VOLUNTEERS CHANGE LIVES
A CASA is a Court Appointed Special Advocate. They are a voice for children in foster care and help ensure they don’t fall through the cracks. CASA volunteers willingly choose to show up in a system filled with transitions, various professional roles, and heavy caseloads. They’re able to intentionally focus on one case at a time — prioritizing a child’s unique needs and offering steady, independent advocacy that makes a lasting difference in their life. CASA programs serve as a bridge across the child welfare system by partnering with caseworkers, attorneys, and judges to keep a child’s best interest at the center of every decision. While professional roles may shift over time in the legacy system or Community-Based Care, CASA volunteers remain a steady presence in a child’s life and are an unwavering source of stability in a rapidly changing child welfare system.
While fewer children are entering care overall, those who do face increasingly complex challenges — deeper trauma, greater mental health needs, and fewer placement options. Many also experience placement instability, delayed services, or unmet educational and mental health needs due to a strained system. Despite these growing challenges, what children truly need is simple: someone who believes in them, fights for them, and shows up consistently. CASA volunteers are more committed than ever to meeting these greater needs with compassion and reliability.
To continue advancing our efforts in preventing child abuse and neglect, the Texas CASA Leadership and Public Policy teams have launched a statewide Tour of Texas to train local CASA programs about the new CASA Story campaign. This tour includes stops in eight major cities, where teams are sharing a new training series and engaging directly with local leadership to listen, learn, and collaborate.
Looking ahead to the 90th Legislative Session in 2027, Texas CASA is empowering the CASA network to come together to elevate and amplify our collective stories. Here’s a glimpse of some moments captured during the tour so far:
We’re thrilled to partner in sharing and celebrating the incredible work taking place at the local level, where passion, commitment, and community come together to create real impact. Learn more about becoming a CASA volunteer and help change a child’s life today.
With appreciation,
Vicki Spriggs, Texas CASA CEO
