Casa For Children Of Essex County Inc

TRAIN AND EMPOWER COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS TO ADVOCATE IN AND OUT OF COURT FOR THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES AND PLACED IN FOSTER CARE BECAUSE OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT.

THE ORGANIZATION SERVES ALL 21 MUNICIPALITIES IN ESSEX COUNTY, ADVOCATING FOR THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO AGE 21 REMOVED FROM HOME DUE TO ABUSE AND/OR NEGLECT AND PLACED IN FOSTER HOMES OR RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES. AFTER COMPLETION OF A RIGOROUS 30-HOUR CURRICULUM, ADVOCATES ARE SWORN IN BY A FAMILY JUDGE AND NAMED TO A CASE BY COURT ORDER. IN ADDITION TO REGULARLY SPENDING TIME WITH THE CHILD, VOLUNTEERS CONNECT WITH THERAPISTS, DOCTORS AND FOSTER PARENTS, IDENTIFYING THE CHILDS UNMET MEDICAL, EMOTIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL ISSUES SO AS TO ENSURE THE CHILD'S BEST INTERESTS ARE PROTECTED.DURING THIS YEAR, THE ORGANIZATION SERVED 231 CHILDREN AND UTILIZED THE SERVICE OF 181 VOLUNTEERS WHO DONATED 12,415 HOURS OF TIME TO FULFILL THE MISSION. PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES PRESENTED HERE DO NOT INCLUDE $402,122 DONATED IN VOLUNTEER SERVICES, AN ESTIMATE BASED ON NJS VOLUNTEER HOURLY VALUE DETERMINED BY THE INDEPENDENT SECTOR, WHICH CALCULATES A VOLUNTEER HOUR AT $32.39.IN ADDITION, IN FISCAL YEAR 2022, CASA FOR CHILDREN OF ESSEX COUNTY SIGNIFICANTLY STRENGTHENED THE ORGANIZATIONS ABILITY TO SUPPORT YOUTH BETWEEN THE AGES OF 14 AND 21 YEARS OLD WHO ARE PREPARING TO AGE OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM. MULTIPLE INITIATIVES SUPPORTED CASA ESSEXS ABILITY TO ACHIEVE THIS. YOUTH WHO AGE OUT OF THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM FACE A MYRIAD OF CHALLENGES, INCLUDING SECURING HOUSING, COMPLETING THEIR EDUCATION, OBTAINING EMPLOYMENT, ACCESSING APPROPRIATE PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AMONG OTHERS. TO ADDRESS THIS, THE ORGANIZATION ESTABLISHED THE CASA RESOURCE CONSORTIUM (CRC). THE CRC CONNECTS YOUTH WITH VARIOUS AGENCIES THROUGHOUT ESSEX COUNTY TO ENSURE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THE RESOURCES AND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO TRANSITION TO AN INDEPENDENT ADULTHOOD SUCCESSFULLY. IN ADDITION, THE ORGANIZATION LAUNCHED AN ONLINE RESOURCE PORTAL THAT PROVIDES YOUTH OVER THE AGE OF 14 YEARS OLD AS WELL AS THEIR ADVOCATES WITH CONTINUOUS ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND INFORMATION. THE PORTAL OFFERS UNIQUE SECTIONS TAILORED TO THE NEEDS OF EACH AUDIENCE ENABLING YOUTH TO EXPLORE SOLUTIONS TO THEIR OWN UNIQUE CHALLENGES AND ADVOCATES TO SUPPORT THEM ALONG THEIR JOURNEY. TOGETHER, THESE INITIATIVES PROVIDE THE TOOLS YOUTH NEED TO ESTABLISH A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR THEIR FUTURE.