Date

5-2021

Document Type

Capstone Project (Open Access)

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Department

Health, Human Services and Public Policy

Major

Collaborative Health and Human Services

First Advisor

Stephanie McMurtie

Abstract

CASA of Santa Cruz County is a nonprofit organization that serves youth in the foster care system, by pairing them with a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). CASA’s are volunteers who devote their time by supporting youth through dependency court. The Hispanic/Latino foster youth that requires a Spanish-speaking advocate wait twice as long for a CASA, compared to a youth who is non-Spanish speaking. This research project gathered information regarding the importance of Hispanic/Latino youth in foster care being paired with a Spanish-speaking advocate. Interviews were conducted with former youth who were matched with a CASA. The interviews showed when a Hispanic/Latino youth is paired with a bilingual CASA, language barriers within the youth and family are broken and advocacy is prioritized. This information will help with the implementation of outreach for Spanish-speaking volunteers and will lead to Hispanic/Latino youth waiting less time for a CASA.

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