Court Appointed Special Advocate Montgomery County Maryland, Inc. (DBA Voices for Children Montgomery)

Overview

Court Appointed Special Advocate Montgomery County Maryland, Inc., operating as Voices for Children Montgomery, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for the rights and well-being of abused and neglected children in Montgomery County, Maryland. This organization works closely with the juvenile court system to ensure these children receive the best possible care and support during their time in foster care.

Mission and Objectives

The mission of Voices for Children Montgomery is to recruit, train, and support volunteer advocates known as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs). These CASAs serve as the "eyes and ears" of the court, ensuring that each child's needs are met and their best interests are represented in the legal and social service systems. The organization aims to provide high-quality care for these children while they are in foster care and facilitate their placement in safe, permanent homes in a timely manner.

Operations and Impact

Voices for Children Montgomery serves a significant portion of eligible children in Montgomery County foster care. The goal is to eventually provide CASA volunteers for all eligible children in the system, which would require increasing the organization's budget and expanding its volunteer base.

CASA Volunteers

To become a CASA volunteer, individuals must be at least 21 years old and willing to commit approximately 10 to 15 hours per month. They undergo a rigorous selection process, including a background screening and comprehensive training that typically involves 40 hours of initial training. CASAs are tasked with:

• Researching all aspects of a child's life, including their living situation, family dynamics, and educational status.
• Preparing written reports to the juvenile court with recommendations that prioritize the child's best interests.

Financial Support

Voices for Children Montgomery relies on community support, raising approximately half of its operating budget from private sources such as foundations, community organizations, and individual and corporate donations.

Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity is a core value at Voices for Children Montgomery, with a strong commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment for staff, volunteers, and the children and families they serve. The organization believes that diversity enhances the quality and effectiveness of its advocacy efforts.

Challenges and Outcomes

The work of Voices for Children Montgomery addresses a critical challenge in the foster care system: providing long-term stability for children who have experienced trauma. The organization is working to increase its capacity to serve more children and improve outcomes for youth aging out of foster care, many of whom face significant challenges, including homelessness.

Relationship to National CASA Network

As part of the broader Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) network, Voices for Children Montgomery aligns with a national movement that supports over 233,000 children through more than 77,000 volunteer advocates across the United States.