"FACTS AND STATISTICS"

• Three children die from child abuse and neglect each day in the United States.
• In 2004, the Department of Human Services investigated 19,763 reports of child abuse and neglect in Arkansas. 
• In 2004, there were 6,502 Arkansas children living in foster care.
• 628 Arkansas CASA volunteers were serving over 2,400 abused and neglected children in 2004.
• Children with a CASA volunteer spend an average of 11 months in foster care compared to 18 month for those without a CASA.  They find safe, permanent homes more quickly.
• Studies show that abused and neglected children who are placed in a stable, permanent home can assist in preventing juvenile delinquency.
• By helping reduce the time spent unnecessarily in foster care, CASA can reduce child welfare costs.  In 2003, an estimated 523,000 children were in foster care, at a cost of approximately $14 billion dollars.  If the median length of stay in foster care (18 months) were shorter for CASA children by just one month, it would realize a savings of about $1.2 billion dollars.
• In 2004, CASA volunteers contributed more than 4.5 million hours of advocacy for children.  If compensated to perform such a role, the total would be more than $225 million.
• Federal law requires that juvenile and family courts appoint a guardian ad litem in all cases of child abuse and neglect, who may be an attorney or CASA or both.
• Children with CASA volunteers may receive more court-ordered services and because of the volunteer's detailed knowledge of the child's circumstances.
• Low caseloads for CASA volunteers mean the courts can make better decisions for children.  They handle just 1 or 2 cases at a time, so that they can give each child's case the sustained, personal attention he or she deserves.