Iowa kids in foster care need more volunteers to help advocate for them | Opinion
We must ensure all children — future adults and community leaders — have access to resources to break familial cycles so they may live healthy, safe, productive lives.
- Meghan Malloy is the executive director of Friends of Iowa CASA and ICFCRB, headquartered in Des Moines.
In February, a young person approached the table I'd set up for Friends of Iowa CASA and ICFCRB's advocacy day at the Iowa State Capitol. I told them about Iowa’s court-appointed special advocates program for children adjudicated in need of assistance. The young person replied, “I’m living with a relative right now because I can’t be with my parents.”
A trusted adult accompanying the young person said maybe this type of advocate was something they could learn more about. I was pleased to see they had a trusted adult with them — because too many of our Iowa vulnerable children do not.
This decade, the number of children in Iowa’s foster care system has steadily decreased, from 7,200 to an estimated 5,000 as of the end of state fiscal year 2024. While this appears to be good news, we must consider how children leave foster care: reunification with family, adoption, guardianship, or, most likely, aging out. Up to 46% of children who age out experience homelessness by the age of 26, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness. One factor contributing to this alarming percentage is lack of a consistent support system.
Foster care review board, or FCRB, volunteers assess case permanency planning for children in foster care monthly, identifying barriers to permanency and recommending solutions. CASA, or court appointed special advocate, volunteers are appointed by a judge to represent a child determined to be in need of assistance. This appointment is a commitment to visit the child every 30 days during the case and interview other parties, finally making recommendations to the court. Being a CASA or FCRB volunteer means being a trusted adult in a child’s life where trust may be difficult to develop.
Nationally, judges report a positive overall experience with their local CASA and guardian ad litem programs (93% approval), due to having an independent advocate who is best interest-based for the child. Children with CASA volunteers tend to experience better permanency outcomes, contributing to a healthier adulthood down the road.
There are 640 Iowa volunteers advocating for 2,600 children. When you recall the figure above of children in foster care, which does not include all children determined to be in need of assistance, you can see the need for more CASA and FCRB volunteers is significant.
When we talk about the future of Iowa, we’re really talking about our children. If we desire to keep young people in state, we must ensure all children — future adults and community leaders — have access to resources to break familial cycles so they may live healthy, safe, productive lives.
To learn more about our organization or to learn more about becoming a volunteer advocate, we invite you to join us at our Spring Light of Hope Breakfast on April 8 at Embassy Club West. This event is free to attend, and all are welcome. Learn more at iowacasafriends.org.
Meghan Malloy is the executive director of Friends of Iowa CASA and ICFCRB, headquartered in Des Moines.