Spaghetti Feed to benefit Yolo County CASA

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HELP FOSTER CHILDREN GROW

Flowers beginning to bloom are a sure sign that spring is on its way. Bulbs that were dormant for months have begun to put down roots and send their leaves reaching for the sky. For children, like the flora we see at springtime, being able to put down roots is essential to doing well in life. But for hundreds of foster children throughout Yolo County, stability is little more than a dream.

Children enter foster care because they have experienced abuse, neglect or abandonment. Once in the foster care system, the child often moves from placement to placement-- sometimes for years until their case is resolved. This affords the child little stability and impacts their chances at blossoming later in life.

However, since 1995 Yolo County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) has been helping foster children achieve stability and have a better chance at life by recruiting volunteers from the community to serve as advocates and mentors. A CASA volunteer is matched in a one-on-one relationship with a foster child and spends a little time each week with their CASA child doing fun, age appropriate activities. CASA's also research different aspects of the child's case. Then, based on the time they've spent with their CASA child and the fact-finding they've done with involved parties such as social workers and lawyers, the CASA Volunteer advocates in the Court system on the child's behalf in the form of brief court reports.

Because this is a long-term volunteer opportunity (about 12-18 months depending on the case), CASA volunteers provide the much-needed sense of stability a foster child needs. More volunteers are needed to help make a difference in the life of an abused, neglected, or abandoned foster child!

To help support these children in need Yolo County CASA and the Odd Fellows of Davis invite you to come join us at our Spaghetti Feed/ Fundraiser, featuring Wine, Silent Auction, and Entertai