May is National Foster Care Month, a time set aside to raise awareness about children and youth in foster care and to recognize the adults who help them find safety, stability, and lasting connections.
But for a child in foster care, awareness cannot stop when the calendar changes.
Imagine being a child who has already had to explain your story to caseworkers, teachers, attorneys, caregivers, and judges. Imagine having your belongings packed quickly, your school routine interrupted, and your future discussed in rooms full of adults. Now imagine one person keeps showing up, listens carefully, remembers what matters to you, and speaks up for your needs in court.
That is what a CASA volunteer can become.
This month is a meaningful reminder that kids in foster care need more than attention. They need trained, steady advocates who are willing to walk beside them during one of the most uncertain seasons of their lives.
Most children in foster care are not looking for pity. They are looking for safety, connection, and someone who sees them as a whole person.
The child welfare system includes many caring professionals, but the system is often busy and complicated. Court dates move. Placements change. Reports get updated. Schools, relatives, service providers, and caregivers may all be involved at once.
In the middle of all that, a child can feel like their voice is getting smaller.
That is where CASA volunteers help. A Court Appointed Special Advocate gets to know the child, gathers information from people involved in the case, and gives the judge child-focused recommendations. CASA volunteers do not replace attorneys, case managers, foster parents, or therapists. They bring consistency, careful observation, and a steady voice for the child’s best interests.
The heart of the role is simple: show up, listen, and advocate.
Standing with a child in foster care does not always look dramatic. Sometimes it looks like remembering the name of their favorite teacher. Sometimes it means noticing that a child lights up when they talk about a sibling. Sometimes it means asking whether their school supplies, appointments, or visits are staying on track.
That steady presence matters.
CASA volunteers understand that one consistent adult can help a child feel less alone when life feels unpredictable. And when a volunteer keeps returning, asking thoughtful questions, and following through, the child begins to see that real love is showing up.
You do not have to have all the answers on day one. CASA provides training, guidance, and support. You will learn how the court process works, what your responsibilities are, and how to advocate within healthy boundaries.
For many people, the first step is simply wondering whether CASA might be the right fit. From there, learning what happens from training to courtroom can make the process feel much more approachable.
A common fear is, “What if I say the wrong thing?” or “What if I am not qualified?”
Those questions make sense. The work matters, and children deserve advocates who take it seriously. But CASA volunteers are not expected to be perfect. They are trained to be prepared, observant, and supported.
You may be a strong fit for CASA if you can:
Many volunteers begin with a quiet pull to help. Maybe you read about foster care and feel a knot in your stomach. Maybe you have worked with children, raised children, taught children, or simply believe every child deserves a champion. That concern can become action.
If you have been learning about common myths about foster care, you may already know how easy it is for people to misunderstand what children and families are facing. CASA gives you a practical way to move from awareness into advocacy.
National Foster Care Month is a good time to pause, but it is an even better time to begin.
Children in foster care need adults who are willing to stay steady when circumstances change. Judges need clear, child-centered information. Families need systems that are better informed. And communities like Johnson County need people who are ready to stand with kids who may feel forgotten.
Maybe your role is to become the person who notices. The person who asks better questions. The person who remembers what the child said three visits ago. The person who helps the court see the child behind the case file.
If you are wondering whether CASA might be the right fit, take the next small step. Learn what to expect from training to courtroom, then fill out the CASA volunteer form.
A child in foster care may be waiting for someone like you to show up.
National Foster Care Month happens every May and brings attention to the needs of children and youth in foster care, along with the caregivers, professionals, advocates, and community members who support them. (Child Welfare Information Gateway)
A CASA volunteer gets to know the child, talks with important people involved in the case, gathers information, writes court reports, and makes recommendations to the judge based on the child’s best interests.
No. CASA volunteers receive training and ongoing support. You do not need to be a lawyer, social worker, or foster parent to become an advocate.
The time commitment can vary by case, but many volunteers serve through regular visits, communication, documentation, and court preparation. CASA staff will help you understand expectations before you begin.
The best first step is to fill out the volunteer form. After that, you can learn about training, screening, and what it looks like to advocate for a child in Johnson County.