CASA of Warren & Forest Counties is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and demonstrates these qualities in its own operations, governance, management, and quality advocacy for children. Data on race, ethnicity, nationality, socioeconomic status, gender, sexual orientation, and disability is collected and reviewed for the children served to inform us about disproportionality and disparate outcomes.
Consistent with National CASA/GAL Association’s Local Program Standards and guiding principles, we are committed to training staff, volunteers, and our governing body members to increase the awareness and understanding of issues relating to disproportionality and disparate outcomes within our local child welfare and court systems.
We have an obligation to be leaders in the fight against systemic racism in our country and our communities. We believe that our program’s volunteers, staff and governing body should reflect the children we serve and the community we live in and strive to recruit to diversify our volunteers, staff and governing body to reflect our population and meet the needs of the children served.
National CASA/GAL has created a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Learning Center which will be made available to all staff. The DEI Learning Center offers resources to encourage the network to reflect and identify ways to address racism, injustices, diversity, equity, engagement, and inclusion.
For staff, access the DEI Learning Center here.
“All young people, regardless of what they look like, which religion they follow, who they love, or the gender they identify with, deserve the chance to dream and grow in a loving, permanent home.”
- President Obama, National Foster Care Month 2015 Presidential Proclamation
We have an obligation to be leaders in the fight against systemic racism in our country and our communities but recognize we cannot do it alone.
Below is a list of resources curated by the CASA network to help individuals learn and take action: