Gila Herald Staff Reports
PHOENIX — September has officially been recognized as Kinship Care Month, highlighting the critical role that relatives and family friends play in providing stable, loving homes for children who cannot safely remain with their parents.
When children enter the child welfare system, placement with kinship caregivers—such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings, or close family friends—helps maintain vital family bonds and cultural connections. These familiar relationships offer stability and security during emotional and uncertain times.
To support children and their families through this process, Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers step in as dedicated advocates for the child’s best interests. Trained community members serve as a consistent presence, spending time with the child, gathering information from caregivers and professionals, and offering valuable insights to court judges.
CASA volunteers are particularly essential in kinship care settings. By listening directly to the child and identifying their specific needs, volunteers advocate for necessary services and support resources to ensure safe, stable, and permanent home placements. A core guiding principle of the CASA program is that children thrive best when they can remain safely within their family of origin.
No prior experience is necessary to become a CASA volunteer. Anyone aged 21 or older who can pass a background check and complete required training is encouraged to apply through their local county program.
Additional ways to support children in foster care include:
- Foster Care Review Board (FCRB): Volunteers join community-based panels meeting online once a month to review foster care cases and make recommendations in the child’s best interest.
- Becoming a Foster Parent: Community members can open their homes to provide temporary, supportive environments for children in need.
To learn more about becoming a CASA volunteer, visit AZ CASAVolunteer. For information on the Foster Care Review Board, visit AZ FCRB, or learn about foster parenting through the Arizona Department of Child Safety. Both CASA of Arizona and the FCRB operate across all 15 Arizona counties under the Arizona Supreme Court.
