Each year, thousands of children in Oregon become wards of the juvenile court system because they have been victims of abuse and neglect. CASA for Children recruits and trains volunteers who advocate, in court and in the community, to secure a safe and permanent family for each of these children.
Although Oregon’s CASA programs are legislatively mandated, they depend on private funding for 64 percent of their budgets. This money is difficult to raise. Consequently, CASA programs statewide currently serve only one-third of children needing help. In addition, many program volunteers carry large caseloads that exceed national CASA standards.
OCF and CASA in Oregon
As part of a multi-foundation initiative with the Oregon Commission on Children and Families, OCF is helping to build the capacity and improve the quality of local CASA organizations.
We initiated a working group of Oregon foundations in March 2006 to develop a coordinated funding strategy for our multiple participants, which include:
- The Collins Foundation
- The Ford Family Foundation
- Meyer Memorial Trust
- The Oregon Community Foundation
- Harold and Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation
- The Spirit Mountain Community Fund
- Juan Young Trust (Western division)
Since mid-2007, these foundations have accepted grant proposals that align with a shared strategy and timetable. Grants are also reviewed in accordance with each foundation’s own funding priorities. Statewide CASA directors are an ongoing source of formal peer mentoring and a sounding board for the statewide strategy. During the first two years of this collaborative effort, the program emphasized:
- Networking and training opportunities through peer mentors
- Data management training and upgrades
- Staffing increases
- Community outreach training to build local support
Well over $1.3 million, including $370,960 awarded by OCF, has been granted to two dozen local CASA organizations. This is in addition to nearly $400,000 awarded for statewide coordination, training and evaluation.
OCF and our fellow foundation partners identified an ongoing need for increased public-sector investment in CASA. The 2007 legislature increased its general fund support for CASA in the 2007-09 biennium by about $1 million, or 70 percent above the 2005-2007 level. This level of general fund support was preserved in the state's 2009-11 budget—one of very few programs in state government not severely cut by the 2009 legislature—due in part to CASA organizations' effective communications about their work and the continued support of OCF and its partners.
CASA Applications to OCF in 2010
Local CASA organizations may resume applying to OCF's Community Grants program. The most competitive CASA applications will be those that sustain and expand the work begun during the statewide collaboration. Questions about the eligibility of projects can be directed to the Community Benefit Department, 503.227.6846.