Foster parents and court appointed special advocates, or CASA and guardian ad litem, or GAL, volunteers have the same focus; the safety and well-being of children who are placed in out-of-home care. Our missions may be different - independent advocacy, as provided by CASA/GAL volunteers, and direct care and nurturing, as provided by foster parents. But our common focus means that, while volunteers and foster parents may not always agree, we serve children best when our relationship is respectful and mutually supportive.

It is difficult to get a clear handle on the state of the CASA and foster parent relationship. Anecdotes typically play a large role in how we feel about each other. Nationally, we believe foster parents need and deserve support for the often-challenging roles they play in children's lives. Locally, there is some evidence that foster parents generally appreciate and benefit from our volunteers' work. In a survey that included foster parents, a large majority reported that the volunteers asked for and respected their opinions. These foster parents said one of the greatest strengths of the CASA/GAL volunteers with whom they worked was their one-on-one involvement with the children.

The foster parents also reported many examples of how CASA/GAL volunteers helped the foster parents:

Some case examples might illuminate this list. We are fortunate to have more than 400 American Indian volunteers. In one case, one of these volunteers was assigned to advocate for a sibling group of American Indian children who were placed with a non-native foster mother. The volunteer was able to help the foster mother better understand the various cultural aspects of the children's lives, enhancing the foster mother's relationship with the children and eventually creating supportive relationships for the children with extended family members.

One of the greatest benefits of a good CASA and foster parent relationship is better information sharing. One foster mother tells of siblings being dropped off at her home for what was supposed to be a few weeks of respite care. The CASA volunteer was "the first person that called me and took the time to explain the children and their history." As the weeks grew into months, this foster mother and the CASA volunteer continued to collaborate. The volunteer was able to help change the case plan to better target services to the children's father. When visits with the father did not work out, it was the CASA volunteer who accompanied the children back to the foster home - with a Happy Meal from McDonalds to help ease the situation.

When children have major behavioral problems, CASA volunteers can be a strong and lasting source of support for foster parents. One such case involved a young child with severe emotional and medical problems. At one point, after working closely with the foster mother for four years, the CASA volunteer reported that the changes in the child were "absolutely amazing." That foster mother went on to adopt the child.

CASA and GAL volunteers can also help the foster parents in connection with court proceedings. Though foster parents may have certain rights with respect to the child welfare agency's actions, such as providing input into the permanency plan, they may have few rights and a limited ability to be heard in court proceedings. CASA volunteers can help ensure that the court does consider foster parent input. In a 2005 survey, judges indicated that CASA volunteers' contact with foster parents is useful for judicial decision making. One foster parent recently wrote to us about a court case where "CASA was there all the way defending the child and his bond to my family."

Beyond cooperating in specific cases, CASA and GAL volunteers - and the organizations that represent them - share a common interest in advocating for systemic changes that will make the children's lives better. Examples of these issues include foster care rates, adoption subsidies, training and support services for foster parents, and assistance to youth transitioning out of foster care.

Another concern we share is the educational rights and success of foster children. One of the national organizations with which we collaborate is the National Foster Parent Association. Our missions mesh well. The National CASA Association mission statement says we support volunteers for children so that those children "can thrive in safe, permanent homes." The National Foster Parent Association mission statement focuses on "safety, permanence and well-being for the children and youth." An example of our collaboration is our participation together on the National Working Group on Foster Care and Education.

These common interests help explain why there is also frequent crossover between fostering and volunteering with CASA. Many current and former foster parents are involved in volunteer CASA and GAL work. One of our former board presidents, for example, was a foster parent. Often, foster parents see volunteer advocacy as a logical extension of the commitment they made to children in their care. Their work with us allows them to feel they are broadening their impact on the child welfare system. Advocating for the best interests of foster children can also mean advocating for better support for foster parents. Former foster children can become strong advocates for improved public support for foster parenting. Actress Victoria Rowell, through The Rowell Foster Children's Positive Plan, is promoting advocacy for foster children and better support for foster parents. Many former CASA children are interested in pursuing this as well.

The relationship between CASA volunteers and foster parents is not always as comfortable as we would all like. If we are doing our jobs well, we should expect times of disagreement. But even when we disagree, we can improve the relationship through open and honest communication. If foster parents have concerns, it is most helpful if those are raised early so they can be dealt with effectively. Both foster parents and CASA volunteers should recognize that they have related but different roles. Foster parents should expect CASA volunteers to solicit and respect their input, but to make an independent judgment based on all the information. On the volunteer side, it is crucial to understand the many pressures foster parents face, from agency requirements, to the stresses of caring for children who may have many special needs, to a lack of adequate resources. Foster care is a crucial resource for some 800,000 children a year in the United States. The effectiveness of that resource depends in part on caring foster parents, who have the training and support they need to do the job. The more volunteer advocates and foster parents understand and respect each other, the closer we will all come to our shared vision of a safe, nurturing home for every child in the country. ABOUT

THE AUTHOR: Michael Piraino is the chief executive officer of the National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association in Seattle. He has law degrees from both Cornell Law School and Oxford University. In addition to practicing law, he has served as a juvenile probation officer, guardian ad litem, a law school faculty member, an associate research scientist at the National Center for Children in Poverty, and a frequent consultant to international social service organizations in Europe and southeast Asia. At the National CASA Association, Piraino has led efforts to expand quality volunteer advocacy for abused and neglected children throughout the United States