by Amy Townsend
For our Aragon Cares activity this month, we had the pleasure of making a monetary donation to Child Advocates of Silicon Valley!
Continue reading to learn more about Child Advocates of Silicon Valley!
Who are Child Advocates of Silicon Valley?
Child Advocates of Silicon Valley is an independent nonprofit 501 (c) 3 organization founded in 1986. They serve children aged from birth to 21 years old who are placed in the Santa Clara County Dependency Court System (commonly referred to as foster care) for having experienced trauma in the form of abuse, neglect, and/or abandonment.
Child Advocates of Silicon Valley serves children in foster care by:
- ensuring every child has a caring and stable adult in their life, an Advocate, while navigating the system;
- influencing local policies and decisions that affect the children they serve;
- building enduring community partnerships to broaden and strengthen their impact.
Child Advocates of Silicon Valley is also an affiliate of the National Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Association.
What is the CASA program?
CASA is a national program that originated in 1977 to ensure children in foster care, who have experienced abuse or neglect, have a trained volunteer speaking up in the courtroom for their best interests.
All CASA Volunteers are trained community members who are appointed with a court order by a judge to advocate for the best interests of a child in foster care. CASAs stay with each case for up to a year or until the case is closed and the child is in a safe, permanent home. CASA Volunteers work with legal and child welfare professionals, educators, service providers, and family members to ensure the child’s voice is heard. Their advocacy enables judges to make the most well-informed decision for each child.
Why We Donated
We are happy to have been able to donate to Child Advocates of Silicon Valley this February. Donations to this nonprofit help to serve over 900 children in foster care and recruit, train, and support over 500 CASA Volunteers each year. Two Aragon Research employees, one being myself, are CASA volunteers and know firsthand about the positive impact this organization has on the lives of children in foster care.
Consider donating to Child Advocates of Silicon Valley, or a similar organization in your area, and stay tuned for what we have planned for Aragon Cares next month!