When news was recently shared about CASA programs in Oregon losing $1.7 million in federal funding, it was difficult to read the online comments on social media from people in our community. We stopped reading the comments after one that stated “We will be fine. They are just volunteers.”

We are used to people not understanding what CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children) does. It is often difficult to explain, especially with privacy rules that do not allow any information to be shared about not only a minor child, but an open court case. All of the children we serve have open court cases of abuse and/or neglect within the state of Oregon. In addition, with an already existing shortage of volunteers and funding, every open case is triaged with the most severe cases being given priority.

A CASA volunteer is a child’s advocate in court — a committed volunteer, making a difference for a child in foster care. Each of these volunteers goes through an intense national background check, a detailed training over several weeks, a graduation and official swearing in by a judge, assignment of an experienced CASA to shadow their first case, a case supervisor assignment and official appointment orders to an open case signed by the presiding judge. A CASA volunteer is a legal party to the case.

It is easy to say “just a volunteer” and to believe that the program will continue with funding cuts, but on the legal side, a volunteer community member cannot simply choose a child and represent that child in court. It requires trained case supervisors, an executive director and a Board of Directors to make that happen.

Written court reports are reviewed and submitted, documentation filed with legal partners, processing of case discovery, etc. One case supervisor oversees 30-40 cases. Cutting one of those positions would cut advocacy for up to 100-plus children. Children right here in our community.

Some cases involve one child, others large sets of siblings. Jackson County is the third largest CASA Program in Oregon, behind Multnomah and Lane Counties. We operate on a tight budget and make every dollar stretch. There is no wasteful spending here. We also support CASA of Josephine County, helping to offset administrative costs.

At CASA, we cannot share with you what we see and hear every single day. Occasionally, when a child ages out of the system, they are willing to speak publicly about how their CASA changed their lives, and often the lives of the entire family. Some of these stories are on our weppage. Some have been shared at our fundraising events.

Many will remember Alyssa, who bravely shared her story four years ago in front of an audience of 300 people and received a standing ovation unlike anything we had experienced before. She is now expecting her first child. Her CASA was the one to host her baby shower and was the only person present for her side of the family. All of these years later, her CASA is still there for her.

The public reads a front-page news story involving a child and it will haunt them, they will carry the severity of it in their hearts. Behind the scenes, nonprofit agencies are quickly communicating and working to set up a plan to best help that child.

The presiding judge will often call our office and personally request a CASA. Grandparents call, too. Throughout the journey, which can be two years and even longer, CASAs are often the only consistent adult in that child’s life. The child will transfer schools, foster homes, change of ODHS Caseworkers and attorneys. It is the CASA who remains consistent throughout the journey and advocates for them at school, the doctor, dentist, mental health needs and therapy. It is the CASA who brings a birthday gift, celebrates a school recognition and shows up to a soccer game.

CASAs change lives every single day. It takes funding to do that.

Jim Wright is president of the CASA Board of Directors in Jackson County.