ARTICLE TAG

court-appointed special advocates

3/21/2017

In Child Welfare, “White Supremacy” is the Hate that Dare Not Speak its Name

Former Juvenile Court Judge Len Edwards, a favorite on the child welfare conference circuit, is upset about a column I wrote here on March 8. The column discussed an article in the City University of New York Law Review that calls that most sacred cow in child welfare, Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), “an exercise of white supremacy.”

3/16/2017

Judge’s Decisions Reveal Extent of Scandal at a Washington State CASA

Last year, I wrote about the scandal at the Volunteer Guardian-ad-litem (VGAL) program in Snohomish County, Wash., an affiliate of the state’s Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) network. CASA is a white, middle-class bastion of the child welfare system, a system that tears apart families that are overwhelmingly poor and disproportionately families of color.

3/8/2017

Law Review Article Calls CASA an ‘Exercise of White Supremacy’

Idaho, 1902: An “officer” of the Episcopal Diocese of Idaho writes about how fortunate Native American children are when they are taken from their homes and forced into white-run orphanages.  “What a contrast” those wonderful orphanages are, she writes, to the children’s own homes: The smoking fire in the centre of the tepee, and on it the pot of soup stirred by the not over-clean squaw … and then to think of the neat, comfortable home at the mission, with the uplifting of its daily prayer … Washington State, 2016: A Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), a volunteer named by a juvenile court to investigate a black family, explains why the court should sever the bond between a black father and his children forever: Formerly homeless, the father had bought an RV for the family to live in.

2/17/2017

New L.A. CASA Leader Talks Growth, Managing Volunteers and Institutional Racism

This week, Los Angeles County’s Board of Supervisors appointed Wende Nichols-Julien to the county’s Commission on Children and Families. This fall, Nichols-Julien was brought on as CEO of CASA of Los Angeles, bringing with her years of professional experience in social justice and the law, as well as the personal experience of being a foster parent.

9/13/2016

CASA Los Angeles to Announce New CEO This Fall

Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Los Angeles is nearing the end of its search for a new CEO, retiring Executive Director Dilys Garcia announced in the organization’s latest newsletter. “Further interviews will occur in early September and a selection announcement is anticipated late September or early October.

Tori Wichman

7/27/2016

Child Welfare Ideas from the Experts, #3: Fighting Bias, Stereotypes of Foster Youth

The Imprint is highlighting each of the policy recommendations made this summer by the participants of the Foster Youth Internship Program (FYI), a group of 12 former foster youths who have completed congressional internships.

    7/19/2016

    One Simple Wish Promotes Nonprofit Collaboration While Brightening Lives

    A night of raffles and designer handbags generated $18,000 in donations. The funds raised by the Credit Union of New Jersey Foundation’s recent designer handbag bingo night were not collected for the foundation, but were instead donated to another local nonprofit.

    7/6/2016

    Latest CASA Scandal Should Be No Surprise: Bias Is Built into The Model

    Anita Farris, a superior court judge in Snohomish County, Wash., says, “I’ve only used the ‘P word’ once in 23 years on this bench, and it applies in this situation.” That’s P as in perjury.