By: Valerie Burchfield Rhodes
Inside CASA is a series that provides an in-depth look at different aspects and programs of CASA OC and the child welfare system as a whole.
Lindsey Covino tries to face her Waitlist of almost 300 youth in foster care waiting to be matched with a volunteer advocate, by concentrating on just one child at a time. She says if she focused too much on the total number, the work might feel overwhelming. Lindsey is the Waitlist Manager for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and is responsible for connecting youth on the CASA Waitlist with newly trained, sworn-in volunteer advocates.
The hundreds of Orange County children, teens and young adults who are on the Waitlist have typically been removed from their home due to abuse, neglect or abandonment and have been placed with extended family or in a group or foster home.
Lindsey and her team, which includes Maria Ocampo Brito and a handful of CASA volunteers, receive referrals to the Waitlist from a variety of sources including “minute orders” from a court hearing, attorneys and social workers. “Sometimes a judge hears something in court or sees something in a report that will trigger an immediate referral to our CASA Waitlist,” said Lindsey. “Some of the considerations for expedited referrals might include a youth’s placement. Are they in a group home? Do they have any family support? Are they a young adult at risk of losing benefits?”
To help identify the most high-priority youth in need of a CASA match, Lindsey recently implemented an initial intake assessment when she receives a referral. “We review kids as we add them to the Waitlist to determine if their status is stable, at-risk, or at crisis level. We assign a point level based on several categories to help identify their needs and priority level to be matched with a CASA.”
Kids at emergency shelters like Orangewood Children and Family Center are often experiencing the most acute trauma yet are often the hardest to support as they frequently run away. Lindsey says, “It’s often the kids most in need of services who are the hardest to match with a volunteer. The longer they are running, the more unstable they can become which can result in delayed care, medications, educational assessments and placements.” Additional challenges in connecting youth with volunteer support can include placements outside of Orange County or when there is a language barrier.
According to Judge Vibhav Mittal, a Juvenile Court judge assigned to child welfare matters, CASA volunteers do a great job of supporting youth in the system but matching kids in need with advocates is a challenge due to the volume of kids in foster care. The good news is that once a youth is connected with a CASA, there are benefits both to the youth and to the court. Judge Mittal says, “There are two reasons I really like having a CASA involved in a case; it’s additional support for the kids that’s organic and constantly evolving as trust and stability are built. The second thing I like is how a CASA provides a unique insight to the court that may not be available elsewhere. Often, something will come up in a child’s life and the CASA is the first to know about it because the youth has told them before any of the other agencies involved. There have been many times when a child runs away from a placement and the first person they reach out to is their CASA when they want to return.”
Judge Mittal adds, “Most of the others helping the youth have heavy caseloads. A CASA can focus on the individual child and what they need. The personal touch that a CASA’s written report contains is very useful.” He adds, “Sometimes it's small things that are helpful in reports like something that is going on in the classroom or in extracurricular activities. Some youth are less vocal than others so it's nice when they have a CASA to advocate for funding for special events or money for an elective medical procedure. CASAs will often work closely with the youth’s lawyer to ensure the youth’s voice is heard in court. We are able to get more insight into the youth’s personality with the input of a CASA.”
Lindsey shares some of what goes into the “matching” process, “We review newly trained and returning advocates’ applications and interview notes to try to create the best connection possible between the youth and volunteer. This includes evaluating skills, occupation and personality traits. Sometimes a child requests a CASA who is ‘calm’ or a ‘good listener’ or may have interests that would make them a good match with a teacher, a nurse or an auto mechanic.” The same attention goes into what the CASA has requested such as the level of complexity of the case and geographic location of placement. Lindsey says, “We want everyone to feel comfortable with the match and for it to be successful for all.”
In an effort to serve more children, Lindsey is now matching siblings with a single CASA where appropriate. “We are looking at increasing sibling matches in order to provide resources to more kids, especially for youth who are more stable,” says Lindsey. Judge Mittal supports this effort, “I think it’s a great idea to match siblings with one CASA especially if they’re in separate placements. It gives them another way to spend time together and helps shrink the Waitlist.”
Lindsey’s work matching youth with CASA volunteers often takes place during the most difficult point in a child’s time in the system. Something has occurred in their home that necessitates that child being removed and placed in foster care or in a group home so the work can be emotionally challenging at times. Consequently, it’s especially rewarding when she sees the results of her efforts. Lindsey says, “One of my favorite things is when I get to see the kids enjoying themselves at CASA events like the annual picnic or holiday party alongside their assigned CASA.”
When asked how we can best reduce the almost 300 youth currently on the Waitlist, both Lindsey and Judge Mittal have the same response - more volunteers! Judge Mittal says, “More volunteers would make the biggest difference. The people I know who have been CASAs say it’s been a transformative experience. If you care about the foster care system and the children who are a part of it, this is a great way to get involved and help them out.”
For more information on how you can become a CASA, please sign-up to attend one of our upcoming Information Sessions or email our Volunteer Recruitment and DEIB Manager, Norma Mendoza.