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A Commitment to Equity for Children

Photo of group of childrenThere are far more African American and Native American children in the foster care and child welfare systems than their populations in American society. This “disproportionality” is yet another example of how the basic rights of children–especially those in minority ethnic groups—can be lost in the system.

National CASA is committed to putting an end to this disproportionality and ensuring an equitable and fair outcome for all children—regardless of ethnicity or economic circumstance. We do so through aggressive advocacy and training work within the court and child welfare systems, and by endeavoring to make sure that our volunteer base reflects the diversity and cultural makeup of the children in the system.

Our Philosophy Regarding Equity and Inclusion

The National CASA Association believes that embracing diversity and inclusiveness strengthens the status of children and their families and is vital to the organization's vision, mission and development initiatives.

National CASA’s strategic plan continues to focus upon disparate outcomes as one of five strategic emphasis areas. A major plan goal is to: “Reduce disproportionality and ensure equitable outcomes for children regardless of race through National CASA’s internal and network-wide racial equity efforts."

Building on our legacy of quality advocacy, we acknowledge the need to understand, respect and celebrate diversity in race, gender, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status and the presence of a sensory, mental or physical disability. We also value diversity of viewpoints, life experiences, talents and ideas. Embracing inclusiveness makes us better advocates by providing fresh ideas and perspectives for problem solving in our multicultural world, enabling us to respond to each child’s unique needs.

National CASA has been actively involved in work to reduce disproportionality by focusing on those areas over which it has influence. These include:

  • Partnering with organizations including Casey Family Programs, state child welfare agencies, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, and state and local CASA organizations
  • Providing training and referrals to training to state and local CASA program staff and volunteers
  • Making resources available on our website that raise awareness of issues surrounding disparity and disproportionality
  • Supporting and promoting local programs' efforts to increase diversity and inclusiveness and provide culturally appropriate service to children

Online Resources

Access information on topics including bias in decision making, diversity planning, immigration and poverty, including the National CASA Judges' Page newsletter on the topic of "The Disproportionate Representation of Children of Color in Dependency Court Proceedings" (346 KB PDF)