COURT HOUSE — CASA for Children of Atlantic and Cape May Counties (CASA) celebrates 10 years of service to abused and neglected children with a special 10 Years with 10 Stories campaign to highlight the uplifting and sometimes heart-breaking narratives that children living in foster care face every day.
In honor of National Adoption Day, Nov.’s story focuses on a young boy who, despite his numerous medical problems, is adopted with the help of his CASA Volunteer. Told through the eyes of his adoptive mother Alison, the young boy’s story emphasizes the need for a CASA Volunteer for all children living in foster care.
“We have had many broken and battered children come into our home over the years – each with their own troubling story,” says adoptive mother Alison. “That night when the Division of Youth and Family Services case worker handed this sweet, terrified, child with dark, thick hair to me in all that he had – his yellow pajamas and blanket, I immediately felt a strong bond and knew that I wanted to be more than a temporary family – I wanted our family to be his forever family.”
To read Drew and Alison’s story please visit: http://www.atlanticcapecasa.org/10thAnniversary.aspx
Drew’s happy ending is the outcome CASA strives for on all cases, but the reality is 107,000 children nationwide and 1,314 children in New Jersey are waiting to be adopted.
“Hearing stories like Drew’s is a reminder of why we fight for every child to have a CASA Volunteer,” said Angie Waters, Executive Director of CASA. “We help facilitate safe, permanent homes for these children because no child deserves to grow-up without the love and support of a family.”
About CASA:
Trained CASA Volunteer Advocates speak in family court on behalf of abused and neglected children in the foster care system and are dedicated to ensuring these children are placed in safe permanent homes as quickly as possible. In Atlantic and Cape May Counties, over 700 children are placed in foster care annually. Last fiscal year, CASA served 316 abused and neglected children with 162 CASA Volunteers and helped place 92 children in permanent homes.
Volunteering for CASA is a rewarding experience says CASA Volunteer Judy from Mays Landing, N.J., “The CASA program addresses one of the most compelling problems of our society, narrows it to one small child and allows me to enter that life and make a difference.”
For more information about CASA visit www.AtlanticCapeCASA.org. CASA is a United Way Partner Agency.
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
