Children who have experienced abuse and neglect have unique needs and challenges, as do their family, friends, and caregivers.
Learn with us as we explore topics related to the well-being of these children.
Together, we can create a community that is supportive and responsive to those needs.
Chase’s CASA Story
Chase Whitaker, a newly graduated law student, attorney, and future Guardian Ad Litem has been volunteering with Henrico CASA for over two years. Prior to his time in Henrico, he served as a volunteer advocate with the CASA program in San Diego. Chase's most recent...
CASA Case: Sam and Christopher’s Story
Sam and Christopher*, two young brothers, were born into a tumultuous home life marked by domestic violence. Over time, their mother realized that although the violence was against her, not the children, it was still hurting them. She recognized that it was her...
DVAM: 4 Ways to Support a Child Victim
Domestic violence creates an unsafe, unhealthy, and frightening environment for children. The violence may or may not be directed at the children. But the children are victims, all the same. Witnessing intimate partner violence is traumatic. Children may be witnessing...
DVAM: What Is Trauma Bonding?
Studies show that domestic violence increased during the COVID pandemic. While data proved this, it also makes sense on a fundamental level. Isolation is an abuser’s greatest tool. And isolation was how the entire world coped with the pandemic. Victims were stuck with...
DVAM: 4 Tips for Safety Plans
The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) defines ‘domestic violence’ as “the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate...
Advocates for Higher Education
An advocate is defined as one who pleads on someone else's behalf. This appeal or petition for another can be in many forms. There are macro-level advocates, such as those who advocate for large scale reform, and micro-level advocates, such as those who speak up for...
Back to School with CASA
With a new school year, the possibilities and opportunities are endless. Unfortunately, for some students, the challenges may also feel endless. That is why CASA volunteers encourage the children we serve to share their feelings about the new school year. We want to...
Who Can Make a Difference?
Building new relationships can feel intimidating. This is especially true for children and teens who have experienced trauma. Youth hurt or abandoned by loved ones may be scared to trust again. Teens jaded by ongoing let-downs may expect the worse and not pursue new...
CASA’s Call to Action: Support Families
In August, the Richmond Times Dispatch published the editorial below, written as a call to action for our community as children start returning to school this fall. Together, we can serve families, support our schools, and stop child abuse. Across our community,...