Volunteer Advocates for Alaska Foster Children

Friends of Alaska CASA

Friends of Alaska Casa

News & Events

Systemic Change in Alaska Child Welfare

By Gloria O’Neil

As a new member of the National CASA Board of Trustees, I am honored to bring a tribal perspective to one of the greatest issues facing Alaska Native people: the crisis in child protection. Despite efforts by the state court system and child protective services agencies, disproportionality and disparity in child protective custody for Alaska Native children have persisted and intensified over the past thirty years. We must do better. This is the time to think comprehensively, to take our experiences and the lessons we have learned and make systemic change to improve outcomes for Alaska Native children.>> Read More

Youth Editorial: Keep Moving Forward

Michael By Michael Schwietert

Alone. Confused. Unorganized. These are words that describe my time in the foster care system. I was placed in foster care at the age of 3 and reunited with my mother at 5. During the time away from my mother, I was able to see things from a different point of view, from a really unstable point of view. I was able to see many different homes from many different standpoints, and it was then I realized that I was my own best friend. There were never adults to share much time with me. Other youth in each home looked at me differently, and many were thrown off by my skin color. I became self-reliant and trained myself to go through the motions, home after home.>> Read More

A 5th grade girl was on my CASA caseload, along with her older and younger siblings.  Her wish was to take piano lessons, at least for the summer, so she’d have some music knowledge and skill before participating in 6th grade band or orchestra. Her foster parents were willing to drive her to the lessons, but couldn’t afford to pay for them.  I found a piano studio in Anchorage that was willing to take her for just the summer. Friends of Alaska CASA paid for her lessons, giving her a great start towards a future in playing the viola. Thank you!

Peggy R – CASA Volunteer