Builds an Educated, Strong and Vibrant Community
Just as businesses thrive in healthy, stable communities, so do our children. It will come as no surprise that children who have experienced traumatic abuse and neglect often grow up facing staggering odds: lower high school graduation rates, higher chances of unemployment, and increased risk of homelessness or involvement with the justice system. It’s a hard cycle to break and one that impacts the stability of our community as a whole.
Dauphin County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) changes those trajectories. By providing consistent, trained volunteer advocates, CASA helps foster youth gain stability, education, and hope — leading them to become contributing, successful members of society.
When a business supports Dauphin County CASA, it is investing in our future local workforce, strengthening the regional economy, and demonstrating a commitment to corporate social responsibility. It sends a clear message: Our business is committed to growth and prosperity, both professionally and for our community as a whole.
An Advocate for Success:
Melissa*, a CASA volunteer, walked into a group home and met a timid young lady. Kiara* did not like to be labeled ‘a foster care kid.’ In many ways, she was a typical teenager who didn’t want school peers to know she lived in a group home. Melissa, sworn into court service as an advocate for the teen, became a consistent person whom this young lady could lean on for guidance and support. She connected with Kiara through frequent visits; represented her best interests before Children and Youth Services caseworkers and a guardian ad litem; attended dependency court hearings; and eventually said goodbye to advocacy when Kiara was placed in a kinship home at age 17.
While her formal role as a court advocate for the teen ended, their relationship evolved into a strong, ongoing mentorship. Melissa watched this reserved young woman bloom into a caring, spirited, and motivated young adult who grew in confidence ― emotionally, socially, and academically. So much so that she became the first person in her family to apply to and enter college. In fact, her former advocate accompanied Kiara to college orientation, and this fall helped her shop for school supplies and move into her freshman dorm room. To date, Kiara is thriving and in excellent academic standing at her college.
When a young woman who once felt invisible walks onto a college campus with hope in her heart and a mentor by her side, it’s more than a personal victory — it’s a community achievement. It’s also a powerful example of what happens when local support surrounds a vulnerable child.
Our Goal for December 2025:
This holiday season, more than 341 children in Dauphin County are in foster care. CASA can currently serve only 70 children — less than 20 percent of the kids in need. With the generous financial support of businesses, organizations, and individual donors, however, we can meet our goal of raising $60,000. If we succeed, CASA can serve more children in the coming months, hire an additional Advocate Supervisor in 2026, and strengthen our team to meet our vital mission.
How Your Company Can Uplift Foster Children’s Lives:
Sponsorships, employee volunteer initiatives, and financial contributions directly fund training, supervision and advocacy efforts. The return on that investment is long-lasting — not only in individual stories like the one shared here, but in the ripple effect of stronger, more resilient communities and residents.
We ask community leaders reading this column: How loudly can you cheer for a foster child? Are you resourceful, have a love for your community, and, most of all, have a desire to give a vulnerable child a voice and a path forward?
Partnerships between businesses and nonprofits have consistently delivered strong results. As CASA seeks to close the gap for children waiting for advocates, we look to our business neighbors for collaboration and support. Consider partnering with us this December to put more children on the path to success.
*Some names have been changed to protect privacy. Please reach out to Kim St.Clair, acting executive director of Dauphin County CASA, via email at [email protected] with any questions.
