‘Public outcry’: Advocates for foster children shaken amid federal cuts

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) - More federal grant cuts, now affecting foster kids.

The Department of Justice sent 360 notices to national organizations Tuesday, terminating millions of dollars in grants. Among those organizations affected is Court Appointed Special Advocates, also known as CASA. Staff there help foster kids while they’re in court, making sure their voice is heard. CASA volunteers support over 200,000 foster kids around the country, including hundreds in Kansas City.

Natalie Julien, the President and CEO for CASA of Johnson and Wyandotte Counties, says the grant being pulled provides almost 30% of CASA’s funding. Translation: 100 of the 400 kids they serve will lose services. That is, unless CASA can stop the cuts from going through. When the announcement hit Julien’s inbox Tuesday, she was shocked.

The notice from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) read in part, “This award is being terminated because it no longer effectuates the program goals or agency priorities...the Department has changed its priorities with respect to discretionary grant funding to focus on, among other things... protecting American children.”

Julien argues this reasoning is especially concerning. “That’s what we do. [Children] are our mission. We’re confused by this decision-making, and hopefully they will reevaluate so that critical funding can be restored”.

Funding restoration cannot happen without a public outcry, according to Julien. Since the announcement, CASA has seen a lot of support on social media. But CASA advocates are pushing residents, especially in Kansas, to call, email, and write their local representatives.

CASA has an email template to help anyone looking to be an additional voice. CASA also works to gather donations from the community to continue its mission.

You can learn more here.

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