Social Justice Institute
As an extension of our ongoing work to address social justice issues, PA CASA is excited to announce the launch of the second project under The Social Justice Institute. The Institute’s new initiative focuses on providing guidance to CASA programs on effectively engaging individuals with personal experiences in the foster care system. Incorporating the voices of those with lived experience is essential in improving our quality of services and promoting greater equity and inclusivity within our network.
The Social Justice Institute is committed to ensuring full representation in our decision-making processes. This dedication acknowledges the frequent exclusion of young people and those directly affected by the foster care system from discussions that significantly impact their lives. To address this, organizations must address youth needs, incorporate youth perspectives, and dismantle oppressive practices within the workplace and systems. Bridging this gap is crucial for improving our policies, procedures, and programs, ensuring that the experiences inform them of those most impacted.
For the 2024 Social Justice Institute, an 8-month collaborative timeline has been established between our state organization and local programs. CASA programs will gain insights into the importance of engaging individuals with lived experience and learn best practices for incorporating youth voices in their programs. The Institute will delve into authentic youth engagement and power-sharing, and provide guidance on authentic storytelling, hiring individuals with lived experience, and developing youth-led projects.
Participants will participate in Fostering Futures, a training program that supports older youth, made available to participating CASA staff and volunteers.
PA CASA is committed to reducing inequalities in the child welfare system by fostering an environment that encourages continuous learning and improvement. We strive to create a supportive and inclusive atmosphere where everyone can express their thoughts and ideas freely. The discussions and work completed during the 2024 Social Justice Institute will be guided by the voices of those with lived experience.
In Partnership With The Giant Company
2022 - Social Justice Institute
As the founding partner in establishing PA CASA’s Social Justice Institute, The GIANT Company has played a pivotal role in advancing the initiatives related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and addressing pressing social justice issues impacting service to children and families.
In April 2022, PA CASA held its Annual Conference. With The GIANT Company’s support, three diversity, equity, and inclusion workshops were offered at the conference: (1) The Intersection of Race and Trauma, (2) Evidence-Informed Trauma Treatments for Children and Adolescents, highlighting racism as an adverse childhood experience, and (3) Advocating for Children and Youth who are LGBTQIA+ in the Child Welfare System. These workshops drew significant participation from CASA staff and volunteer advocates.
Starting from July 2022 to December 2022, staff from local CASA programs engaged in monthly meetings. These sessions involved building on tools developed by the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, integrating them into their DEI Plan. The toolkit included qualitative satisfaction surveys tailored for both volunteers and board members, customized outcome reports categorized by race and ethnicity for volunteers and children using the case management system, Optima, resources assisting in calculating the disproportionality index to understand the representation of children and volunteers by county, and a DEI plan template aligned with National CASA/GAL Standards for Local Programs.
Participating programs utilized these tools to collect data, gaining insights into disparities and disproportionate representation within their respective counties. The gathered information informed their recruitment goals for CASA volunteers, aiming to enhance their ability to serve the unique needs of children and families in their communities.
The work completed in 2022 was guided by the following principles:
- Leadership Commitment
- Employee and Volunteer Experience
- Transparency
- Workplace Diversity
- Effective Learning and Development
- Implement and Advocate
2022 Social Justice Institute Initiatives
Leadership Commitment
The Social Justice Institute is committed to supporting local programs, providing resources, and building a culture that is inclusive and innovative.
Employee and Volunteer Experience
The Social Justice Institute will create a work environment where everyone's thoughts, ideas, and perspective matter to expand opportunities for continued learning.
Transparency
The Social Justice Institute will collect and analyze data to inform our understanding of disproportionality and disparities in the dependency system and its impact in the communities we serve.
Workplace Diversity
The Social Justice Institute will take action to diversify volunteers, staff, and board members by identifying Black-, Latinx- and Indigenous-owned businesses to become involved with CASA as a volunteer, staff member, or board member.
Effective Learning and Development
The Social Justice Institute will provide educational opportunities and resources to create a culture of continuous learning and improvement, where our programs, staff, and partners reflect and address the needs of the diverse communities and children we serve.
Implement and Advocate
The Social Justice Institute will work with local programs to establish and implement diversity, equity, and inclusion plans reflective of these values to promote a more equitable and inclusive environment and seek to take action to address disparities.
2022 Participating Programs
CASA of the Laurel Highlands - Beginnings, Inc. (Cambria/Somerset)
Cumberland County CASA
CASA of Fayette County
CASA for Kids, Inc. of Washington County
CASA of Lancaster and Lebanon Counties
CASA of Luzerne County
CASA of Philadelphia County
CASA Youth Advocates (Delaware/Chester)
Social Justice Institute
As an extension of our ongoing work to address social justice issues, PA CASA is excited to announce the launch of the second project under The Social Justice Institute. The Institute’s new initiative focuses on providing guidance to CASA programs on effectively engaging individuals with personal experiences in the foster care system. Incorporating the voices of those with lived experience is essential in improving our quality of services and promoting greater equity and inclusivity within our network.
The Social Justice Institute is committed to ensuring full representation in our decision-making processes. This dedication acknowledges the frequent exclusion of young people and those directly affected by the foster care system from discussions that significantly impact their lives. To address this, organizations must address youth needs, incorporate youth perspectives, and dismantle oppressive practices within the workplace and systems. Bridging this gap is crucial for improving our policies, procedures, and programs, ensuring that the experiences inform them of those most impacted.
For the 2024 Social Justice Institute, an 8-month collaborative timeline has been established between our state organization and local programs. CASA programs will gain insights into the importance of engaging individuals with lived experience and learn best practices for incorporating youth voices in their programs. The Institute will delve into authentic youth engagement and power-sharing, and provide guidance on authentic storytelling, hiring individuals with lived experience, and developing youth-led projects.
Participants will participate in Fostering Futures, a training program that supports older youth, made available to participating CASA staff and volunteers.
PA CASA is committed to reducing inequalities in the child welfare system by fostering an environment that encourages continuous learning and improvement. We strive to create a supportive and inclusive atmosphere where everyone can express their thoughts and ideas freely. The discussions and work completed during the 2024 Social Justice Institute will be guided by the voices of those with lived experience.
In Partnership With The Giant Company
2022 - Social Justice Institute
As the founding partner in establishing PA CASA’s Social Justice Institute, The GIANT Company has played a pivotal role in advancing the initiatives related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and addressing pressing social justice issues impacting service to children and families.
In April 2022, PA CASA held its Annual Conference. With The GIANT Company’s support, three diversity, equity, and inclusion workshops were offered at the conference: (1) The Intersection of Race and Trauma, (2) Evidence-Informed Trauma Treatments for Children and Adolescents, highlighting racism as an adverse childhood experience, and (3) Advocating for Children and Youth who are LGBTQIA+ in the Child Welfare System. These workshops drew significant participation from CASA staff and volunteer advocates.
Starting from July 2022 to December 2022, staff from local CASA programs engaged in monthly meetings. These sessions involved building on tools developed by the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, integrating them into their DEI Plan. The toolkit included qualitative satisfaction surveys tailored for both volunteers and board members, customized outcome reports categorized by race and ethnicity for volunteers and children using the case management system, Optima, resources assisting in calculating the disproportionality index to understand the representation of children and volunteers by county, and a DEI plan template aligned with National CASA/GAL Standards for Local Programs.
Participating programs utilized these tools to collect data, gaining insights into disparities and disproportionate representation within their respective counties. The gathered information informed their recruitment goals for CASA volunteers, aiming to enhance their ability to serve the unique needs of children and families in their communities.
The work completed in 2022 was guided by the following principles:
- Leadership Commitment
- Employee and Volunteer Experience
- Transparency
- Workplace Diversity
- Effective Learning and Development
- Implement and Advocate
2022 Social Justice Institute Initiatives
Leadership Commitment
The Social Justice Institute is committed to supporting local programs, providing resources, and building a culture that is inclusive and innovative.
Employee and Volunteer Experience
The Social Justice Institute will create a work environment where everyone's thoughts, ideas, and perspective matter to expand opportunities for continued learning.
Transparency
The Social Justice Institute will collect and analyze data to inform our understanding of disproportionality and disparities in the dependency system and its impact in the communities we serve.
Workplace Diversity
The Social Justice Institute will take action to diversify volunteers, staff, and board members by identifying Black-, Latinx- and Indigenous-owned businesses to become involved with CASA as a volunteer, staff member, or board member.
Effective Learning and Development
The Social Justice Institute will provide educational opportunities and resources to create a culture of continuous learning and improvement, where our programs, staff, and partners reflect and address the needs of the diverse communities and children we serve.
Implement and Advocate
The Social Justice Institute will work with local programs to establish and implement diversity, equity, and inclusion plans reflective of these values to promote a more equitable and inclusive environment and seek to take action to address disparities.
2022 Participating Programs
CASA of the Laurel Highlands - Beginnings, Inc. (Cambria/Somerset)
Cumberland County CASA
CASA of Fayette County
CASA for Kids, Inc. of Washington County
CASA of Lancaster and Lebanon Counties
CASA of Luzerne County
CASA of Philadelphia County
CASA Youth Advocates (Delaware/Chester)
Pennsylvania CASA Association’s values are founded in the belief that best-interest volunteer advocacy can ensure safety, well-being, and permanency for abused and neglected children. We live our values by:
- Communicating with accuracy, integrity, and truthfulness
- Creating a community of respect, without judgment
- Listening to communities and programs to build understanding
- Integrating the values of individual communities into our work
- Intentionally setting goals
- Focusing on solutions
- Collaborating with local CASA programs and stakeholders and persevering to achieve our goals
Social Justice Institute Principles
Authentic Engagement
The Social Justice Institute highlights the importance of authentic youth engagement. This recognizes young people as equal partners rather than service recipients. Authentic youth engagement empowers youth to take the lead in shaping discussions about their futures, actively includes them in decision-making processes, and ensures they receive the necessary support to pursue their goals and aspirations.
Inclusivity and Representation
The Social Justice Institute recognizes the importance of full representation in decision-making processes. Individuals with lived experience are often left out of conversations that impact their lives. The Social Justice Institute strives to ensure their voices are actively heard in CASA policies, procedures, and programming.
Collaboration
The Social Justice Institute fosters collaboration with our state organization, local programs, and individuals with lived experience.
Training and Education Opportunities
The Social Justice Institute will facilitate a Fostering Futures Training for participating programs, including their staff and volunteers, equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge to support the older youth we serve. It will provide the PA CASA network with the tools to effectively engage individuals with lived experience.
Commitment Learning and Development
The Social Justice Institute is committed to reducing inequalities in the child welfare system through continuous learning and improvement. This includes creating an environment where everyone's thoughts, ideas, and perspectives are heard. The Social Justice Institute will promote information and resource sharing to further our mission.
Take Action and Implement Change
The Social Justice Institute will collaborate with local programs to implement lived experience in their programming, driving impactful change. This may include a guide on authentic storytelling, hiring individuals with lived experience, developing youth-led projects, and professional development opportunities.
Upcoming Events
DEI Committee
PA CASA’s statewide DEI committee meets quarterly throughout the year. Local program staff and directors are invited to attend and engage in conversations focused on relevant current news and events, or changes to policy and law. Additionally, the committee works to understand and address the systemic disparities within the child welfare system through sharing information, collecting and analyzing data and trends, and developing DEI plans.
Meeting schedule:
- February 8 at 12 p.m.
- May 9 at 12 p.m.
- August 8 at 12 p.m.
- November 14 at 12 p.m.