Letter to the Editor: New school, same struggle

To the Editor:

It’s often said that education is the silver bullet. If we want to break cycles of poverty and give future generations a better chance of success, they need to be well educated.

With everything going on with education and schools currently, there’s one issue I challenge you not to forget about: foster kids. Imagine how difficult this is for your family and your children and then imagine how difficult this must be for them.

Children in the foster care system can end up in multiple homes throughout the year. Oftentimes, when a child moves placements, they move schools as well. Transitioning from school to school only compounds the chaos of life in the foster care system, making a quality education nearly impossible for these kids.

One recent study found that with each new school, a student would lose four to six months of progress. It’s easy to see how foster children fall behind. Because of this, less than 10% of foster youth nationwide will graduate from college.

We owe it to ourselves and our communities to make sure these kids don’t fall through the cracks. So, how can we make a difference? Consider volunteering with CASA of Iowa.

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) Advocates work with children in the foster care system to make sure they find a safe and permanent home. Children with a CASA Advocate spend less time in foster care, are less likely to re-enter foster care, and are more likely to graduate from high school.

We know children are our future. Let’s make sure all of Iowa’s children have a chance to succeed.

If you would like to learn more about this volunteer opportunity, please contact Kerry Brennan at kerry.brennan@dia.iowa.gov or visit https://childadvocacy.iowa.gov/.

Kerry Brennan
CASA Program Coordinator and CAMS Specialist