Does Volunteering Actually Make a Difference? Here’s How You Can Make a Dent in Johnson County

If you’ve ever wondered, “Does volunteering really help?”, the answer, especially here in Johnson County, is a resounding yes.

The Need Is Real, and Local

In our community, child abuse and neglect cases continue to rise. Behind every case is a child, and right now, too many of those children don’t have a dedicated advocate speaking for them in court.

• In June alone, the Department of Child Services (DCS) filed 23 new CHINS (Child in Need of Services) petitions, resulting in 12 new court cases.
  
  
• Our CASA program currently has 133 children assigned across 81 open cases.
  
  
• 50 children are still waiting for a CASA volunteer to speak up for them.

That number is more than just a statistic. It’s 50 local children,  many living in chaos or transition, who don’t yet have a consistent, trusted adult looking out for their best interests in the courtroom. You can be the one to change that.

Progress Is Happening Because of Volunteers Like You

At the start of this year, the waitlist was even longer: more than 70 children were without a CASA in Johnson County. Thanks to the work of our dedicated volunteers, that number has dropped, but we still have a long way to go and more cases are filed every month.

What’s more concerning is that the number of active volunteers has declined. As of May, only 33 CASA volunteers are currently serving, each handling multiple cases. Every new volunteer directly reduces the number of children waiting. Every volunteer helps ease the burden on the system. Every volunteer counts.

What Does a CASA Volunteer Actually Do?

When you serve as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), you become the voice for a child in the courtroom. Unlike DCS, which serves the state, CASA serves the child — independently and objectively.

As a CASA, you will:

• Investigate the child’s situation by gathering information from caregivers, teachers, social workers, and the child themselves.
  
  
• Report your findings and recommendations directly to the judge.
  
  
• Monitor the case by staying involved until the child reaches a safe, stable outcome.
  
  
• Advocate for what is truly in the child’s best interest — not just what’s easiest or quickest.

And the best part? You’re not alone. CASA volunteers are trained, supported, and guided every step of the way.

But Does It Really Make a Difference?

Yes — and here’s why.

• Judges rely on CASA volunteers to help make the most informed decisions for vulnerable children.
  
  
• Children with a CASA are more likely to find a safe, permanent home and spend less time in foster care.
  
  
• CASAs offer stability. In a system where social workers, placements, and caseworkers often change, a CASA may be the only constant adult in a child’s life during a traumatic time.

In Johnson County, your impact is tangible. Every time a volunteer steps forward, another child is removed from the waitlist. Another child gets a champion in court. Another child knows they’re not forgotten.

What Happens If No One Steps Up?

When children don’t have a CASA, their voices are quieter in court. Their unique needs may be missed. With only DCS and attorneys involved, the full picture of a child’s life might never be heard.

CASA volunteers make sure no child slips through the cracks.

You Are Not Powerless, You Are the Solution

If you’re someone who has ever asked:

• “Can one person really make a difference?”
  
  
• “Does volunteering help children in the real world?”
  
  
• “What can I do in my own community?”

This is your answer: Yes. Yes. And everything.

Volunteering as a CASA is one of the most impactful ways you can directly improve a child’s life right here in Johnson County.

Ready to Be the Difference?

We’re currently facing a shortage of volunteers, and a growing list of children in need.

If you’ve got just a few hours a month and a heart to help, you can change the trajectory of a child’s future.

Become a CASA Volunteer Today
Your voice could be the one that changes everything.