Raising the Bar for the Educational Needs of Children

My youngest child Kendall returned to college this week after the long holiday break.  She texted me to say that her classes were amazing and she was “re-inspired” to chart a path toward graduate work in early childhood education.  As I delighted in her excitement and determination to reach her goal, I also thought about those who encourage the educational dreams of abused and neglected children and prepare them for the journey.

It is well documented that abused and neglected children, particularly those placed in foster care, face educational challenges and chronic underachievement in school.  Oftentimes, those of us working with traumatized children think it is best to give them a “pass” in school because they have a lot going on in their lives; we set low expectations and don’t insist they develop disciplined study habits; we accept minimum-level achievement without engaging them in the exploration of excellence.  This low bar does not serve these children well.

Like Kendall, abused and neglected children must visualize their future in order to set a course and master the skills and knowledge to take them there. Caring adults must serve as guides and mentors to help them set goals and make the effort to achieve those goals, while providing reassurance that they can succeed.

This past year at Fairfax CASA, we made a new commitment to improve the ability of CASA volunteers to advocate for the educational needs of the children they serve.  With the benefit of an extensive educational advocacy training, developed in collaboration with Fairfax County Public Schools, CASA volunteers are now informed about school resources and college readiness programs, aware of the effects of trauma on a child’s ability to learn, able to identify a child’s academic strengths and devise strategies to maximize them.  With these enhanced skills, Fairfax CASA volunteers are ready to raise the bar of success for our community’s youth.

We encourage all who work with abused and neglected children to join us in helping them envision their possibilities and strive for excellence.

Happy New Year!

Sincerely,

Lisa Banks- Executive Director