CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Mariposa County recruits, trains and supports CASA volunteers who advocate for children in court, in the classroom, and in the community. These caring individuals serve as the children’s “voice,” working one-on-one with them so that they know they are not alone throughout their time in foster care.
Our organization believes in compassionate care for all children who are taken from their families. As such, we cannot accept what the federal government has done to migrant boys and girls along the southern border of the United States.
There is absolutely no question that removing children from their parents—even for good cause, such as the child’s own safety—can cause lifelong trauma. There is much research on the lasting effects this trauma has on children. For example, foster youth are significantly more likely to drop out of high school, be homeless, or develop serious mental or physical illnesses.
It is the mission of CASA to ensure the safety and well-being of all children now and in the future, and we strongly oppose the federal government’s current “Zero Tolerance” policy that has led to the separation of migrant children from their parents and the incarceration of families at the U.S./Mexico border. This is a damaging, immoral, anti-family policy that is harming innocent children.
These children do not have advocates to act in their best interests or to look out for their needs while they are held indefinitely in often poor conditions in unfamiliar places far from their families. We encourage every individual in our community to stand up for these voiceless, vulnerable children, and to this purposeful infliction of trauma on innocent kids.
You can speak up for a child today:
• Advocate for a child in your community by becoming a CASA volunteer.
• Donate to organizations such as RAICES that provide advocacy and legal representation for these families. This link provides you with the option to support multiple organizations.
• Volunteer with national organizations, such as the ACLU or the International Rescue Committee.
• Contact your state and local legislators and let them know where you stand.
Caroline Fruth and CASA of Mariposa County
Mariposa
