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Intercultural Competency and Child Welfare

Racial Disproportionality in the US Child Welfare System Disproportionality, as defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) et al., is the over or underrepresentation of a racial or ethnic group compared with its percentage in the complete population (2021, p. 2). Research demonstrates the overrepresentation of specific racial and ethnic groups in the child welfare system. HHS et al. report that in 2019, African American children represented 14 percent of the child population and 23 percent of the foster care population (2021, P. 3). Additionally, in 2019, white children made up 50 percent of the child ...

February Coloring Page from CASA

Libraries are full of so much knowledge, and wonderful helpers who want to share all that knowledge with you! Three cheers for our librarians and library workers! Download our newest coloring page from Joe Lee! Then once you've finished, share a photo with us on social media and check out Joe's finished version below!       Thank you, as always, to the City of Bloomington Arts Commission for funding this project!

January Coloring Page from CASA

Who doesn't love a good party!? It's always fun to have something to celebrate! Download our newest coloring page from Joe Lee! Then once you've finished, share a photo with us on social media and check out Joe's finished version below!     Thank you, as always, to the City of Bloomington Arts Commission for funding this project!

December Coloring Page from CASA

The weather is turning colder, and we're spending more time indoors. Looking for something to do? Download our newest coloring page from Joe Lee! Then once you've finished, share a photo with us on social media and check out Joe's finished version below!   Thank you, as always, to the City of Bloomington Arts Commission for funding this project!

The Benefits of Volunteering

Why should you start volunteering? Volunteering is a great way to get involved in the community and offers many health benefits. It intertwines the psychological, emotional, and physical aspects of your well-being. Several studies have shown that those who engage in volunteering experience reduced stress, enhanced mental clarity, and decreased depression. Studies also show people who devote their time to volunteering experience lower blood pressure resulting in a longer lifespan. This can be a result of increased physical activity for those who are not highly active otherwise or simply a reduction in stress levels. The relationship between providing a service ...

Thank you to our Monroe County Judges! New Coloring Page from CASA

Recently we celebrated the career of retired Judge Stephen Galvin, and this coloring page is in honor of all Judges who have an impact on children's lives! Created by local artist Joe Lee, this drawing honors the work of all those in the judicial system! Please download and print the image and color it. Then share your creation with us! Can you find the hidden C-A-S-A in the image? And here's the finished version, completed by Joe Lee!   This project is funded by the City of Bloomington Arts Commission. We appreciate their support, along with Joe Lee's creativity, in ...

ADHD Awareness Month – What it is and How it Relates to CASA

October is attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) awareness month. ADHD is an extremely relevant neurodevelopmental disorder in the lives of children, teens, and adults. As CASA volunteers, we see that there is certainly a high prevalence of ADHD in children; however, oftentimes trauma symptoms are mistakenly covered up with an ADHD diagnosis. Below, you can find more information on what ADHD is and the prevalence of ADHD in foster care children.   What is ADHD?  According to the Centers for Disease Control (2023b), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is “one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood,” and is typically diagnosed in childhood, ...

Happy Fall! New Coloring Page from CASA

Fall is here, and so is a new coloring page from Monroe County CASA! Created by local artist Joe Lee, this image celebrates what makes fall so much fun! Please download and print the image and color it. Then share your creation with us! Can you find the hidden C-A-S-A in the image? And here's the finished version, completed by Joe Lee!   This project is funded by the City of Bloomington Arts Commission. We appreciate their support, along with Joe Lee's creativity, in bringing this project to life.

Check Out Our CASA Staff Book Recommendations for Volunteers and Community Members

The following are book recommendations from the Monroe County CASA Staff, intended to further your knowledge and understanding of topics that intersect with the work of a CASA volunteer. These are also great books for interested community members as well!  Demon Copperhead - By Barbara Kingsolver   This co-recipient of the 2023 Pulitzer Prize, and the winner of the 2023 Women’s Prize for Fiction, is a coming-of-age story following the life of a boy born into institutional poverty, navigating the foster care system, love, loss, child labor, and school, with a determination for survival, set in the mountains of southern ...