CASA volunteers help foster children succeed in school

Back-to-school is an exciting time for students. However, for children in foster care who often change schools multiple times, there is little excitement to be had when you don’t know if you’ll be in the same school next week, next month or next year.

It is estimated that foster children move schools at least once or twice a year. These moves result in setbacks: Children in foster care are estimated to lose four to six months of academic progress with each move, causing them to fall behind, decreasing the chances they will graduate from high school — a predictor of later success in life.

Thankfully, there are people in our community who help keep foster children in the same school longer and secure the resources they need to advance academically. Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers get to know their assigned child and make recommendations in the child’s best interests to the Juvenile Court judge.

This new school year, CASA of San Luis Obispo County asks that caring, local residents come forward and become CASA volunteers to help a foster child have a stable, enriching academic experience and reach their potential.

This story was originally published August 19, 2016 at 7:51 PM with the headline "CASA volunteers help foster children succeed in school."