May Newsletter: Join Us in Supporting Children in Foster Care Across Kansas

Honoring Foster Care Month and supporting children across Kansas

Welcome to CASA on the Range, your source for updates, insights, and stories from Kansas CASA Association, Inc. that drive our mission forward. Stay informed, stay inspired, and join us in making a difference.

As we recognize National Foster Care Month this May, we pause to honor the children and youth in foster care across Kansas, as well as the dedicated individuals who stand beside them every day. This month serves as an important reminder that every child deserves to feel safe, supported, and heard.

At the end of January 2026, according to reports from the Kansas Department for Children & Families (DCF) there were over 5,400 children in foster care across Kansas at that time. Behind every number is a child navigating uncertainty after experiencing abuse or neglect — often while facing changes in home, school, and daily routines. During these difficult circumstances, CASA volunteers provide something incredibly powerful: a consistent voice advocating for a child’s best interests both in and out of the courtroom.

National Foster Care Month is also an opportunity to raise awareness about the ongoing need for CASA volunteers and support for local programs. Kansas CASA currently has local programs serving 63 of Kansas’s 105 counties, yet many children still do not have access to a CASA advocate. Kansas CASA Association, Inc. remains committed to expanding awareness and support across the state so that more children in foster care have a voice and the opportunity to achieve a safe permanency.

On behalf of Kansas CASA Association, Inc., thank you to everyone who supports this mission — our volunteers, local program staff, board members, judges, attorneys, child welfare professionals, donors, and community partners. Your commitment changes lives and helps ensure that children experiencing foster care are not alone.

Thank you for standing with CASA and with the children we serve.

With gratitude,
Deena Gage
State Director
Kansas CASA Association, Inc.

Kansas recently became the 7th state to join the federal “A Home for Every Child” initiative, a nationwide effort focused on improving outcomes for children and families involved in foster care. Kansas was also the first state to receive approval of its plan through the initiative. The program aims to strengthen support for children and families by increasing access to safe foster homes, supporting kinship placements, improving data-driven decision making, and reducing barriers within the child welfare system.

According to the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), there are currently only 57 foster homes available for every 100 children entering foster care nationwide. The initiative seeks to improve that ratio while helping states focus on prevention, permanency, and family support efforts.

To learn more about the initiative and Kansas’ participation, view Governor Kelly’s March 26 press release and the federal ACF announcement linked below.

Kansas CASA Association, Inc. is excited to announce our upcoming online auction, taking place July 29–31. This annual event is a meaningful opportunity to support children in foster care across Kansas while helping raise critical funds for CASA advocacy efforts statewide.

We are currently seeking event sponsors and auction item donations to help make this year’s auction a success. Sponsorships provide valuable visibility for businesses and community partners while directly supporting CASA’s mission to ensure every child in foster care has a voice in court.

Auction item donations are also greatly appreciated and can include gift baskets, experiences, services, gift cards, or unique items that would help generate excitement and engagement throughout the event.

If you or your organization are interested in supporting the auction, we would be grateful for your partnership. Every contribution helps strengthen advocacy for children across Kansas.

Thank you for standing with CASA and the children we serve.

You can find our sponsorship packet HERE.

“When you are an only child, you trust you. When Terry came into my life, I learned how to trust.” - Luc B., Former Kansas CASA Youth

Did you know you can support Kansas CASA Association, Inc. every time you shop at Dillons—at no extra cost to you?

Through the Dillons Community Rewards program, a portion of your everyday grocery purchases can be donated directly to Kansas CASA.

How to enroll:

Visit www.dillons.com and log in to your rewards account

Search for Kansas CASA Association, Inc. (or enter code NG889)

Click “Enroll”

That’s it—once enrolled and you use your Dillons Rewards Card, your purchases will automatically support CASA every time you shop.

Thank you for helping Kansas CASA Association, Inc. continue advocating for children in foster care across our communities.

Looking for a way to support CASA while adding a little style to your day? Check out the Kansas CASA Shop! Every purchase helps raise awareness and supports the incredible work happening in CASA programs across 63 Kansas counties.

With options for direct shipping or local pickup in Baldwin City, it’s easier than ever to shop and make a difference.

🛍️ Browse the shop and place your order here: Kansas CASA Shop

📸 Don’t forget to share your new CASA gear on social media and tag us—we love seeing our supporters showing their CASA pride across Kansas!

Our Board of Directors plays a vital role in guiding the Kansas CASA Association’s mission. These dedicated individuals volunteer their time to help shape our future, ensuring that we continue to provide meaningful support to CASA programs across the state. Click below to learn more about our board members and their commitment to children in need. If you are interested in applying to join the Kansas CASA Association, Inc. Board of Directors, please contact Deena Gage at statedirector@kansascasa.org.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of Kansas CASA Association, Inc., and we are setting an ambitious but meaningful goal: raising $35,000 to support CASA advocacy across Kansas.

This goal is not symbolic—it directly supports the work being done every day for children in foster care who need a consistent, trained, and caring CASA volunteer in their lives. These funds help strengthen statewide efforts to support CASA programs, including training, technical assistance, outreach, resource development, and efforts to expand awareness so more children across Kansas can have a voice in court.

While CASA volunteers step in to advocate for children’s best interests, Kansas CASA Association, Inc. depends on financial support to provide statewide leadership, training, technical assistance, outreach, and resources that strengthen and sustain CASA programs across Kansas. These efforts ensure local programs have what they need to recruit, train, and support the volunteers who make advocacy possible.

The need is real and ongoing. Thousands of children enter foster care in Kansas each year after experiencing abuse or neglect. While CASA volunteers stand beside them, that impact is only possible because of the infrastructure and support provided at the state level.

If you are able, we ask you to consider making a donation today. No amount is too small, and every contribution brings us closer to ensuring more children have the support of a CASA advocate when they need it most.

Together, we can meet this $35,000 anniversary goal—and more importantly, continue building a system where every child has someone consistently in their corner.

Thank you for standing with Kansas CASA Association, Inc. and the children we serve.

You can also follow our progress in real time through our live donation tracker and see how close we are to reaching our $35,000 goal.