Back-to-school season is often presented as a fresh start. For children in foster care or involved in the court system, however, returning to school may bring added uncertainty.
A child may be adjusting to a new home, school, caregiver, or routine while trying to focus on assignments and friendships. At Johnson County CASA, we help make sure those challenges are not overlooked.
School can provide important structure, but changes outside the classroom can make it harder for a child to feel settled.
A child may be worried about where they will live, when they will see family, or whether they will have to change schools again. Missed learning, family separation, trauma, and unfamiliar surroundings may also affect their ability to concentrate or connect with others.
Every child responds differently. Some may become quiet or withdrawn. Others may struggle with attendance, behavior, schoolwork, or trust. What looks like a lack of motivation may be a sign that the child is carrying more than others can see.
Grades tell only one part of a child’s story.
A child may be trying hard but falling behind because their routine has changed. They may have difficulty completing homework, remembering instructions, or feeling comfortable in a new classroom.
Our CASA volunteers look at the whole child. We listen, gather information, and help the court understand how the child is doing academically, emotionally, socially, and physically.
Our role is not simply to advocate for better grades. It is to help ensure the child’s safety, stability, well-being, and educational needs are part of important decisions.
You can learn more about how CASA supports children in the foster care system.
Our volunteers maintain contact with the child and communicate with caregivers, teachers, caseworkers, and other people involved in the case when appropriate.
This helps us understand whether the child is attending school consistently, adjusting to changes, receiving needed support, and feeling heard.
When a concern arises, our volunteer can gather more information, follow up, and include relevant observations in reports to the court. We do not diagnose children or replace teachers, counselors, therapists, or DCS caseworkers. We provide an independent voice focused on the child’s best interests.
Children involved in the child welfare system may experience changes in homes, schools, caregivers, caseworkers, and routines.
A CASA volunteer can remain a steady presence through those changes. By visiting regularly, listening carefully, and remembering what matters to the child, our volunteer can help the child feel seen.
Consistency also gives our volunteers a clearer understanding of the child’s needs. They may notice changes in confidence, behavior, friendships, or school progress that could otherwise be missed.
We do not expect volunteers to begin with legal, educational, or child welfare experience.
We provide training, staff guidance, continuing education, and support throughout each case. Volunteers learn how to communicate with children and adults, gather factual information, write court reports, and advocate with care and objectivity.
Our article about CASA volunteer training explains how we prepare new advocates. Prospective volunteers can also explore what the first 90 days may look like.
You do not need to be a teacher, lawyer, social worker, therapist, or foster parent. You need compassion, commitment, and a willingness to learn.
Back-to-school may not feel like back-to-normal for a child experiencing uncertainty. A trained CASA volunteer can help make sure the child’s concerns, progress, and needs remain part of the conversation.
You will receive training and support, and you will not be expected to do this work alone.
Visit our volunteer page to learn about becoming an advocate, attending an information session, or starting the application process.
No. We provide the training and support needed to advocate for a child’s best interests.
Yes, when it is appropriate to the case. Our volunteers may communicate with teachers and school professionals to better understand the child’s attendance, progress, behavior, and needs.
No. Our volunteers have a separate role. We gather information and make recommendations to the court based on the child’s best interests.
Many volunteers balance CASA service with work and family responsibilities. Some court hearings and meetings may occur during business hours, while other tasks can often be scheduled more flexibly. Our guide to the CASA time commitment provides more context.
You can attend an information session, donate, share our mission, or encourage someone you know to learn more about becoming a child’s voice in court.