Friends of Iowa CASA and ICFCRB
.png)
At Friends of Iowa CASA and ICFCRB, we work together with community volunteers and others to promote and support volunteer advocacy for children who experience abuse and neglect, while raising public awareness of the importance of safe and permanent homes for all children.
Iowa's foster care review board program is comprised of 22 county and regional boards servicing 52 counties. In Polk County, the board has recently increased its case load to include children ages 0-5, in addition to teenagers, to assess permanency. Unfortunately, in January 2024, the board lost its physical meeting place where monthly reviews have been conducted since July 2021. This was a purely financial decision.
Though reviews may be conducted virtually, it is critical to obtain an in-person location for the Polk County board: 1) advocates are able to create and maintain more personal connections with the families they serve, and 2) it is paramount for cyber security protocols to be followed, which is done via a private portable hotspot volunteers use while meeting in-person. This is to protect information and identities of children in crisis. The estimated cost for a physical location that meets the needs of the board to conduct their reviews appropriately is $500 each month, or $6,000 for the year.
We believe that harnessing the collective power of community and charity, this need can fulfilled for 2024 - but we can't do it without generous donors like you! Donating as little as $25 can add up quick and change these children's stories through advocacy. Thank you for your generous gift and investing in the well-being of children in your community!
321 E. 12th St.
4th Floor - Lucas Bldg.
Des Moines, IA 50319
Privacy Policy
Friends of Iowa CASA and ICFCRB works with community volunteers and others to promote and support volunteer advocacy for children who have experienced abuse and neglect, and raise public awareness of the importance of safe and permanent homes for all children.
Since 1998, we have proudly served as the non-profit partner for the Iowa Child Advocacy Board (ICAB).
Together, we can provide the best outcomes for abused and neglected children - every child and every time.
What is CASA?
CASA's (court appointed special advocates) are judge-appointed volunteers who advocate for children adjudicated in need of assistance. CASA volunteers ensure these children don't get lost in the overburdened legal and social services systems, or languish in inappropriate placements. Volunteers stay with each case until it is closed and the child is placed in a safe, permanent home. For many abused and neglected children, their CASA volunteer is the one constant adult presence in their lives.
What is FCRB?
FCRB (foster care review board) volunteers assess case permanency plans for children in foster care. The boards meet monthly and determine what barriers - if any - are preventing a child in placement finding a safe and permanent home, and advocate for the child via recommendations to the court. Iowa currently has 22 county and regional boards serving 22 counties.
Who Can Be a Volunteer?
Almost anyone! As a CASA or FCRB volunteer, you are a caring adult who can pass a criminal background check and has a flexible schedule between 5 to 10 hours monthly to dedicate to children adjudicated in need of assistance. Volunteers are required to undergo training from the Iowa Child Advocacy Board and ongoing training throughout the year. To learn more about becoming a volunteer, please visit the Iowa Child Advocacy Board page.
