Forty years ago Rhode Island took a giant step when a group of volunteers established a program to help abused and neglected children.

The Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) has been going strong ever since. On Wednesday, a free summer outing will be held at Goddard Park’s Sheltered Picnic Area, celebrating the anniversary.

The event, starting at 5 p.m., will provide an opportunity for advocates and staff to get together, as well as the opportunity to recruit interested volunteers. Food and drinks will be available.

Rhode Island was the second state to create a chapter of CASA after Seattle, Washington. Now nearly 950 programs exist throughout the country. While now a national program, RI CASA also runs under a state Judiciary program and Family Court.

CASA first started as a volunteer program to advocate for children in state care. Many of the volunteers were at one time involved with RI’s Department of Children, Youth, and Families, (DCYF), and Family Court, due to a multitude of unforeseen circumstances.

Advocates of CASA are an important group of individuals who help youth who are in the crisis of being in the child welfare system. Volunteers make sure the children are given the proper support and resources they need. These advocates come from a variety of backgrounds from, homemakers, to teachers, social workers, business people, and even retirees. Those who decided to become advocates are carefully screened and given 30 hours of “comprehensive training and court observation.” Advocates are then sworn in by the judges of Family Court and then begin their journey of child advocacy.

According to the national organization, studies have shown many positive attributes and progress in different children’s cases due to the volunteers advocating for them. These include higher likelihood of adoption, less time in foster care, a plan for a permanent home, especially for minority children, more likely to get passing grades in school, and even show better conduct while in school.

Main reasons for these positive effects are largely due to the fact that these children receive the proper services and care they need. In addition, the children have a trusted, responsible, and caring adult with them throughout their case.

According to Cheryl Martone, administrator for Rhode Island program, CASA employs social workers who “work with and on behalf of children in our most complex cases.”

Martone is responsible for community outreach, engagement, as well as recruiting new members. She has put together many emergency services for kids who are in dangerous and abusive situations, many of which occurred in foster care. In total, the agency works with 2,400 children.

RI CASA as well as RI Family Court, works with each child to find the best solution for them, namely their placement. Placements that include, Kinship care-someone the child is familiar with, such as the other parent, aunt or uncle, or other family member is one option. Another is Congregate care, where the child, especially older children or teenagers, are placed in a group or hospital setting.

Just last year, with help from state grants and funds, RI established an Independent Living option for youth from ages 18-21. Rather than being expelled from the system upon reaching legal adulthood, these young adults are now given the opportunity to smoothly transition out of the system, and onto their own. With supports and resources provided by the state as well as RI CASA and its advocates, these individuals end up going to lead better, and more fulfilling lives.

“Many of those children who were in the system, have gone on to get college degrees,” says Martone. “The average child [who was in foster care] to get a degree is only three percent.”

Martone is looking forward to the July 24 gathering, as it will be a time for the community to come together and celebrate a good cause. It also serves an opportunity to recruit new volunteers who might be interested in the program. “We want to get the word out,” she says. “They [advocates] are really a big help to the kids, they really care,” she adds. She also has seen much help and support from the community, such as donations of clothing and grants from the state.

There will be two upcoming volunteer training classes, one in September and one in October. They both are at the Garrahy Judicial Complex in Providence. “Volunteer advocates will work out of all four courthouses in the state, including the Kent County Courthouse in Warwick,” she says in an email.

Another affiliated, non-profit organization, Friends of RI Casa, will have a special fundraiser on Sunday, September 8, beginning at 1:30 p.m. and concluding at 7 p.m. Friends of RI Casa supports the works of RI CASA, as well as helping in the promotion of volunteers and volunteer recruitment, and most importantly raise funds to help children in CASA cases. Friends of RI Casa have had other fundraisers as well such as Golf Tournament this past June. Tickets for attending the event are $40, children 10 and under are $20; and all proceeds go toward RI CASA. The event will also feature live entertainment, raffles, silent auction, cash bar and plenty of food. It will be held at Bonnet Shores Beach Club at 175 Point Road in Narragansett.

For more information please contact Kristina Deangelis Poli at (401) 996-0184 or email at KristinaKPoli@gmail.com.

For more information regarding RI CASA or their free event at Goddard Park, contact Cheryl Martone at (401) 822-6722 or email cmartone@courts.ri.gov.