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May is National Foster Care Month
May is National Foster Care Month, a time to recognize that we each can play a part in enhancing
the lives of children and youth in foster care. Read the President's Proclamation.
Throughout this month we hope to raise the visibility of foster care issues and encourage more people
to get involved and support the more than 380,000 children and youth
under 18 living in out-of-home care throughout the year.
No matter who you are or how much time you have to give, you can help
create permanent, lifelong connections for these children and youth and
Change a Lifetime.
What can you do?
During the month of May, we encourage you to learn more about foster care: we all have the power to Change a Lifetime!
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Spotlight on Training
Each month or so, we will highlight a
different FREE web-based training opportunity of interest to child
advocates in order to assist our CASA volunteers with fulfilling their
requirement to complete 12 hours of continuing education annually.
In recognition of National Foster Care Month, our Spotlight this month is: The Sibling Bond from Foster Club.
Access it now.
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Alaska's Children Need You
Each year thousands of Alaska children are victims of physical or sexual abuse, neglect or abandonment. Hundreds of these children are thrust into court through no fault of their own and become part of the overburdened state child protection system. Their lives are disrupted. Their futures uncertain.
With all the facts and figures, it's tough to remember the human side of child abuse and neglect. We tend to stereotype the victims or deny any connection between them and our happy, safe neighborhoods. But all the children that our CASA programs serve live in Alaska—in your community—and they're not just statistics. Each one is an individual with a compelling story to share.
The same is true of our volunteers. We take ordinary people with extraordinary hearts and train them to be able advocates. They are community members who realize the need to help these children, and each one has a unique background and talents that he or she brings to the CASA cause.
CASA volunteers come from all walks of life and experience. Though different in many ways, CASA volunteers have one thing in common…they come forward to make a difference in the life of a child.
CASA programs throughout Alaska are looking for caring adults interested in becoming a voice for these children. As a CASA volunteer, you will receive training from professionals in the legal and children’s services fields and the complete support of professional CASA program staff to help you through each case. Learn more.