Casa for Children of Essex County

The organization serves all 21 municipalities in Essex County, advocating for the needs of Children from birth to age 21 removed from home due to abuse and/or neglect and placed in foster homes or residential facilities. After completion of a rigorous 30-hour curriculum, advocates are sworn in by a family judge and named to a case by court order. In addition to regularly spending time with the child, volunteers connect with therapists, doctors, and foster parents, identifying the childs unmet medical, emotional and educational issues so as to ensure the child's best interests are protected.during this year, the organization served 202 Children and utilized the service of 158 volunteers who donated 11,603 hours of time to fulfill the mission. Program service expenses presented here do not include $391,340 donated in volunteer services, an estimate based on njs volunteer hourly value determined by the independent sector, which calculates a volunteer hour at $33.82.in fiscal year 2023, Casa Essex significantly advanced its board development by introducing a thorough orientation process and a detailed onboarding manual. Simultaneously, the organization extended its influence in the community and enhanced its advocate training programs. This effort not only widened its community engagement but also improved the overall volunteer experience, highlighting the organizations dedication to bolstering support and resources for its volunteers.additionally, Casa Essex launched an important new initiative, "voices of foster care in Essex County: decoding the myths of the system." This project seeks to explore the in-depth experiences of families involved in the child welfare system and evaluate both the immediate and long-term effects of their involvement. The totality of these strategic enhancements and initiatives reflect Casa Essex's ongoing commitment to reinforcing its support systems and broadening its influence and impact within the community.