School Connectedness: When students believe that the teachers and staff at their school genuinely care about them and their learning, they will do better in school. According to the CDC, “Research has shown that young people who feel connected to their school are less likely to engage in many risk behaviors, including early sexual initiation, alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use, and violence and gang involvement. Students who feel connected to their school are also more likely to have better academic achievement, including higher grades and test scores, have better school attendance, and stay in school longer.”
Positive Relationships: This is where our advocacy at CASA comes into play. When CASA volunteers are appointed by a judge, they get to know the child and talk to family members and other adults in the child's life to find out what they need to heal and thrive. CASA volunteers advocate for stability with respect to a child’s living situation and school placement, with the child’s best interest in mind. CASA volunteers interact and build relationships with everyone in the child’s environment who has a hand in their education—parents and foster parents, teachers, school counselors, social workers, attorneys, therapists, mentors, and others. CASA volunteers are often the one consistent person in their foster care journey. Our volunteers remain in frequent contact with teachers and school administrators to form a partnership to better understand the child’s unique strengths and challenges. These interactions with the child’s school, combined with the volunteer’s relationship with the child, empower the CASA volunteer to advocate in court for what the child needs to thrive academically. If a child is receiving tiered response to intervention, special education or 504-related services, our volunteers can attend school meetings and recommend strategies that support the child’s success in school such as tutoring, therapies, assistive technology and other accommodations. They can also advocate for placement stability, knowing that frequent school transfers can cause a child to fall behind.
We wish our Goochland students and teachers the very best for the upcoming school year!
#BacktoSchool #ChangeAChildsStory