Summer CASA College Series: Judicial Perspective on CASA Reports
At Henrico CASA, we believe learning doesn’t stop after pre-service training. That’s why we’re excited to launch our Summer CASA College Series, highlighting valuable continuing education opportunities available to CASA Advocates across Virginia.
CASA College is Virginia CASA’s statewide training hub, designed for every Advocate across the Commonwealth. Its purpose is simple: to help Advocates feel knowledgeable, prepared, and confident when speaking on behalf of the best interests of the children they serve. Through a variety of virtual training courses led by subject matter experts, CASA College provides opportunities to deepen skills, strengthen advocacy, and stay informed on topics impacting children and families.
This week, Henrico CASA Volunteer Coordinator, Sydney Quinones shares her reflections on Supporting Students Experiencing Homelessness and Students in Foster Care. (If you cannot access, please reach out to your CASA supervisor for the password)
One of the most important ways CASA Advocates support children is by recognizing the many factors that impact a child’s ability to feel safe, supported, and successful. For children experiencing homelessness or placement in foster care, educational stability can be a critical piece of their overall well-being.
In Supporting Students Experiencing Homelessness and Students in Foster Care, presented by Patricia A. Popp, Ph.D, the programs, protections, and partnerships designed to support children facing housing instability or foster care placement were discussed. The training highlighted the importance of maintaining consistency in a child’s education and the role that advocates can play in helping ensure their educational needs are recognized.
Understanding Educational Stability
Several key federal laws help protect educational stability for children experiencing homelessness or foster care, including the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, the Fostering Connections Act of 2008, and Title I, Part A of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). These programs work together to remove barriers and improve educational outcomes for children and youth navigating difficult circumstances.
The training highlighted the role of Project HOPE Virginia, which serves as a liaison between the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) and the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) to help coordinate services and support for students experiencing homelessness or foster care.
For CASA Advocates, this information reinforces an important reality: children involved in the child welfare system often experience overlapping trauma. Frequent school changes, placement disruptions, and uncertainty can affect a child’s ability to learn, build relationships, and feel connected to their school community.
As noted during the training, stabilizing a child’s school placement can significantly improve their chances of academic success. Better educational outcomes also lead to better life outcomes, making educational stability a critical part of advocating for a child’s best interests.
Advocating for a Child’s Educational Needs
The training also explored common risk factors associated with homelessness, including poverty, substance abuse, domestic violence, mental health challenges, lack of affordable housing, inadequate healthcare or nutrition, adolescent parenthood, disrupted family support, and other barriers that can impact a child’s stability.
Under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, children experiencing homelessness are defined as those who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. This can include children living in emergency or transitional shelters, sharing housing due to economic hardship, or staying in places not designed for regular sleeping accommodations.
For children experiencing homelessness or foster care placement changes, maintaining educational stability can mean remaining in their school of origin when appropriate or ensuring a smooth transition to a new school when necessary. A Best Interest Determination (BID) meeting provides an opportunity for schools, child welfare professionals, and other involved parties to collaborate and determine the educational setting that best meets the child’s needs.
Connecting Learning to Advocacy
The information shared in this training serves as an important reminder that educational stability is not separate from a child’s overall well-being—it is a critical part of helping children heal, build relationships, and reach their potential. As CASA Advocates, we have a unique opportunity to look beyond the immediate concerns of a case and understand how changes in placement, school, and support systems can impact a child’s educational journey.
This connection was especially meaningful when reflecting on a case involving a 9-year-old child who was removed from their mother’s care. Before entering foster care, they had significant challenges attending school consistently and was falling behind academically. After entering foster care at the beginning of the school year, the team began exploring what educational setting would best support the child’s needs.
During the following summer, I participated in a Best Interest Determination meeting with the child’s foster care worker, school staff, and other members of the support team. Together, we advocated for them to attend a new school closer to their foster placement, even though it meant entering a completely new school jurisdiction.
The transition made a significant difference. The school was prepared to support the child’s needs before they arrived, including providing special education services, individualized instruction, and additional resources. During the entire school year, only two behavioral incidents occurred, an incredible improvement from the child’s previous experience.
This experience demonstrated the impact that educational stability and a supportive school environment can have on a child’s success. As CASA Advocates, understanding these resources and advocating for children’s educational needs allows us to help create opportunities where children can learn, grow, and thrive.
