Every Child Needs a Champion

With children in need of extra support and baby boomers with spare time and wisdom, volunteer opportunities with CASA can provide a perfect match, a means of giving back.

When our children were young, we spent years making sure they got to school on time, finished their homework, and knew we were always rooting for them. Many BOOMER readers can relate. We raised our children, worried about their futures, and celebrated their successes.

But not every child grows up with that level of support and sense of security.

In every community, children are experiencing challenges that many adults never see. Some are living in homes impacted by substance use, mental health struggles, domestic violence, or extreme financial hardship. Others move from home to home, unsure where they will sleep next month or whether the adults in their lives can meet their basic needs.

For these children, the difference between simply surviving and truly thriving often comes down to one thing: having a caring adult in their corner.

Research shows that a single stable, supportive relationship can significantly improve outcomes for children who have experienced adversity. A trusted adult can help a child feel seen, valued, and safe, which can change the trajectory of an entire life.

Adults transitioning to the next chapter of life have an extraordinary opportunity to step into this role in a child’s life, because they have something children and families desperately need: perspective. Years of parenting, professional experience, and life lessons create wisdom that cannot be taught in a classroom. Just as importantly, they may now find themselves with the time and flexibility to invest in causes that matter.

One way to make a difference is by serving as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). Volunteer Advocates are trained community members who speak up for children involved in the child welfare system due to abuse or neglect. They gather information from everyone involved in a child’s life, get to know the child personally, and provide recommendations to the court about what is in that child’s best interests. For many children, a CASA Advocate becomes the one constant adult whom they can count on throughout a difficult chapter of their lives.

“Being a CASA is probably the most rewarding experience of my life other than being a father,” says Harvey Gutkin, a retiree now volunteering his time a CASA Advocate. “Knowing that you are making a difference in someone’s life, someone who needs help, someone who is maybe on their own, it’s just an unbelievable experience.”

But advocacy does not require a formal title.

Everyone can play a role in supporting children by mentoring, volunteering, offering practical support to families under stress, or simply remaining attentive to the needs of children in neighborhoods, schools, and communities. Small actions often have lasting impacts.

Communities become stronger when adults recognize that children’s well-being is everyone’s responsibility.

Most people remember the adults who shaped their lives – a teacher, coach, neighbor, relative, or mentor who took the time to care. Their influence often lasted far beyond childhood.

Today’s children need those champions, too.

The question is, who will answer the call? Will you?

Kristin Blalock is the Director of Partnerships for Henrico CASA, where she builds collaborative relationships in support of their mission. Her outreach and engagement work, including social media management, has received recognition at a local and national level. She is dedicated to supporting children from hard places in both her professional and personal life, as an adoptive parent.

Since 1994, more than 4,700 children have benefitted from a volunteer Advocate ensuring their safety and stability. The intervention of a Court Appointed Special Advocate has led to their improved physical and mental wellbeing in the present and future. Learn more at www.HenricoCASA.org.

For volunteer opportunities throughout the US, go to NationalCASAGAL.org/our-work/programs.