For children in Kansas foster care, instability is often the norm. In 2024, 341 children experienced six or more placement moves in just one year. Though they represented only four percent of kids in custody, those children accounted for half of all placement moves across the state. Although this is the most vulnerable subpopulation we work with, every move compounds the trauma of removal and makes it harder for young people to hold on to hope for the future.
Read more about Kansas’ progress in child welfare reform here.
That’s where CASA comes in. CASA volunteers provide consistency in the midst of chaos, often serving as the one caring adult who stays with a child throughout their case. Beyond stability, they help children see that their choices matter and that a brighter future is possible.
To better understand why CASA’s role is so vital, it is helpful to know how the Kansas child welfare system operates and the challenges children face as they navigate it. Below, we’ve outlined five key facts about the child welfare system in our state, and five about CASA’s unique role within it.
5 Things to Know About the Kansas Child Welfare System
- Foster kids are members of your community.
Children in foster care are not living apart from us — they are our neighbors. They attend local schools, visit our grocery stores, and participate in our churches and community activities. Foster youth are part of the fabric of our community, even when they’re living in temporary placements. - Foster kids have experienced trauma.
Being removed from their home is a traumatic event for any child. That trauma can ripple through every part of life, affecting health, education, and even increasing the likelihood of involvement in the juvenile justice system. - Older youth face greater challenges in finding permanency.
Unfortunately, for children who enter or are in the system around age 12 and older, adoption becomes much less likely. Older youth often carry the compounded trauma of removal and multiple foster care placements, which can show up as behavioral or mental health struggles. - Trauma-informed services are essential.
Challenges and trauma that children in the child welfare experience make it especially critical for the child welfare system to provide trauma-informed services that recognize and respond to children’s needs. The system must do more to recognize and respond to trauma. Case managers, judges, volunteers, and service providers all need training and resources to create safe, healing environments and provide trauma-informed services for children, families, and caregivers. - Kansas’ privatized system is complex.
Kansas is one of the few states with a privatized child welfare system, meaning case management and other services are contracted out to private vendors. This structure adds complexity and inconsistency across the state, creating additional barriers for children, families, and even service providers like CASA.
5 Ways CASA Makes a Difference
- A consistent adult in a child’s life.
Children in foster care often experience frequent moves between homes and schools. A CASA volunteer is often the one steady, caring adult who stays with them throughout the course of their case and who is solely focused on them alone. - Independent advocacy.
Unlike attorneys or case managers, CASA volunteers are not part of the foster care or legal system. They are court-appointed advocates focused solely on the best interests of one child or sibling set. - Highly trained volunteers.
CASA volunteers complete extensive training and ongoing education to understand the child welfare system, the impact of trauma, and how to advocate effectively for children. - A voice in court.
CASA volunteers gather information from families, caregivers, teachers, and service providers. They submit reports that summarize information about the child and their environment to the judge, along with individualized recommendations, ensuring the court has a clear picture of the child’s needs. - Better outcomes for kids.
Children with a CASA are more likely to succeed in school, receive the services they need, and find safe, permanent homes — and less likely to re-enter foster care.
