WHEREAS, On an average day, more than 4,100 of Philadelphia's abused and neglected children are living in the foster care system, often separated from their siblings and spending much of their childhood being shuffled from group home to group home, having to continually adjust with every move; and
WHEREAS, The system designed to care for them fails to adequately provide for their future and is overburdened with too many children. A typical social worker carries between 30 and 50 cases and the attorneys who represent the children handle upwards of 300 cases at a time; and
WHEREAS, Children in the foster care system have the same needs as all other children:
security, stability, support, compassion and a healthy environment in which to learn and thrive; and
WHEREAS, The mission of the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Philadelphia County is to train and support community volunteers to advocate for the health, safety, stability and well-being of abused and neglected children; and
WHEREAS, Court-appointed community volunteers working through the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Philadelphia County help ensure that children in the foster care system, facing some of the most difficult circumstances, have an independent voice advocating for their needs; and
WHEREAS, On October 13, 2013, CASA of Philadelphia County will host the CASA Superhero 5K Walk at The Philadelphia Zoo to raise awareness about the needs of abused and neglected children in the foster care system and the role that CASA volunteers play in advocating for these children. CASA requests that all Philadelphians consider lending their support to this important cause; now therefore
RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor and recognize the outstanding service provided to our City's children by CASA of Philadelphia County and its volunteers.
RESOLVED FURTHER, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to representatives of the Board of Directors of CASA, further evidencing the sincere respect and admiration of this legislative body.
End