The case of Bradley Thomas, the child who was found in the woods after being abandoned by his father, has made national news headlines.

While it is a distressing story, there are many children just like Bradley whose stories do not receive any media attention. There are 318 children in the foster care system in Central Oregon, and every week that number is growing — 28 children entered foster care in the past four weeks. Central Oregon is on track to have more than 550 children spend time in foster care this year, a record.

CASA of Central Oregon is a local nonprofit that is appointed by a judge to every single child who enters the foster care system in Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties. At this time, there are 53 children waiting for an advocate. Having a volunteer to be a voice for these children and advocate for their best interests within our courts and the foster care system is crucial to their well-being. The National CASA Association website states:

“Children with a court-appointed special advocate are more likely to find a safe, permanent home and are half as likely to reenter foster care. Children with CASA volunteers get more help while in the system and more services are ordered for the children. They are more likely to have a consistent, responsible adult presence as volunteers spend significantly more time with the child than a caseworker or paid guardian ad litem. Children with a CASA spend less time in foster care. ‘It is quite remarkable that children without CASA involvement are spending an average of over eight months longer in care, compared to children having CASA involvement.’

Children with CASA volunteers are also less likely to bounce from home to home and they do better in school.

They are more likely to pass classes and less likely to have poor conduct in school or be expelled. Children with a CASA score better on nine protective factors including: neighborhood resources, interested adults, sense of acceptance, controls against deviant behavior, models of conventional behavior, positive attitude towards the future, valuing achievement, the ability to work with others and the ability to work out conflicts.”

As the rate of children in care rises, so does the need for more volunteer advocates and the funds to recruit, train and support them. Our local CASA program is given enough funds by the state to advocate for just 10 percent of the children in care.

The need is great, and the need is growing. So, when you hear a story like young Bradley’s, and you wonder what you can do to help, think of all the nameless and faceless children in our community who are in need of a voice, and consider joining us by becoming a volunteer advocate or by making a financial contribution to CASA of Central Oregon so every abused and neglected child just like Bradley can have an advocate speaking up for them.

Visit casaofcentraloregon.org to learn more about volunteering and/or donating. You can call the office at 541-389-1618.

— Sarah Graziani is a CASA of Central Oregon volunteer advocate.