Advocates for Kansas foster children assessing impact from CASA funding cuts

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) - A program that teaches volunteers to advocate for foster children and ensure their interests are represented faces a drop in funding. Last week, the National Court Appointed Special Advocate or CASA organization was among programs seeing its federal grants through the U.S. Department of Justice cut. This has the state and local CASA program assessing the impact.

The national CASA organization reports that three of its grants through the DOJ were among 360 that the agency cut. The Associated Press reported that the hundreds of grants totaled more than $800 million.

Looking at what this could mean for foster care advocates in the Sunflower State, Kansas CASA Association State Director Deena Gage explained what grant money helps to accomplish.

“(Advocates are) appointed by judges to advocate for children in foster care who have experienced abuse or neglect. They get to know the child and talk with family members, foster parents, teachers, doctors, really anyone involved in the child’s life,” Gage said. “They make recommendations to the judge for what’s best for the child. They also make sure that the child’s voice is heard. A lot of times, a CASA is the one consistent adult in that child’s life during a really tough time.”

Kansas has 20 local programs in the state that train volunteers to serve as advocates. That training is provided by the national organization.

These programs are feeling a bit speechless after the national CASA organization had three grants cut by the DOJ.

“The complete loss, as sudden as it occurred, has been very surprising. I don’t think anyone fully understands the impact yet,” said CASA of Sedgwick County Executive Director Kim Gerstenkorn.

Gerstenkorn said the national CASA organization provides support and training for volunteers to become advocates. She said that while this doesn’t have an immediate impact in Sedgwick County, funding from these grants helps to support local programs.

CASA of Sedgwick County was working on applying for the 2026 funding cycle. So we had a recent local funding loss, and we’re hoping to make up with that through grants from National CASA,” she said. “There’s just a lot of unknown.”

Gerstenkorn said this program has significant benefits for the children, not just someone looking out for their interests, but leading to improved and stable placement, improved academics and graduation, and higher levels of hope.

The Kansas CASA association said two of the 20 local programs in the state are affected, which received funding to expand services in northeast Kansas to train more volunteers as advocates. The cuts could impact about 175 children.

“They’re currently looking for ways to replace those dollars because the need is so great,” Gage said. “Every child deserves someone in their corner. That’s what CASA provides and that’s what CASA will continue to provide.”

She added, “The more volunteers you have, the more children you can help. The loss of these funds were really unexpected.”

Part of the challenge is understanding why the cuts to the federal grants were made, with the justification provided.

“It does not effectuate the administration’s current focuses, which include the protection of American children, which is exactly what CASA programs are trying to do,” Gerstenkorn said. “CASA volunteers make sure they’re providing another set of eyes and support throughout the child welfare process. That children are not experiencing further abuse, neglect or harm during their time in the system, and also making sure they’re returning or going into a new safe and stable placement. So really, CASA volunteers are protecting children.”

Last year in Kansas, CASA served more than 1,300 children, an increase from the year before. Local funding or donations, along with volunteers, sustain many of the programs in the state.

The Kansas association and local programs are reaching out to Kansas’s federal lawmakers, wanting to see this funding restored.

The national CASA organization said it is appealing the decision to end the grants.