Giving Children a Voice: CASA of Menominee/Marinette's Volunteer Training Program

‍Each year, more than 500,000 children are placed in foster care and enter into the court system through no fault of their own. A judge must decide their future: whether it is safe to return home, or whether permanent placement elsewhere is the right path. For children navigating that process in the Upper Peninsula, CASA of Menominee/Marinette trains community volunteers to stay with them through it, serving as a steady, trusted adult who speaks up for their interests in court. It is the only CASA program in the region.

In 2024, Superior Health Foundation awarded a grant to support the 30-hour training curriculum that prepares each new volunteer advocate, covering materials, supplies, and advocate supervisor time.

That year, CASA held two training sessions and certified nine new volunteer advocates, nearly double its original goal of five. Those nine advocates were assigned cases and at the end of the granting period were working with 14 children across Menominee and Marinette Counties. Most cases extend 18 months or longer, making the advocate's role a sustained presence.

That impact of a steady voice on children's mental and physical health is a positive one. In a national study, 92% of judges have identified CASA volunteers as among the most significant contributors to children's long-term well-being of any program they work alongside.

Advocates are sworn in by judges in both Menominee and Marinette Counties and coordinate regularly with county social workers and foster families. That network of adults working in coordination around a child is a big part of what makes the model effective.

To learn more or get involved, visit https://www.casamenominee.com/