47 years ago, the CASA volunteer Guardian ad Litem program came to Minnesota. At the time, some children were not able to have a CASA Guardian assigned because there were not enough volunteers to keep up with growing caseloads. This CASA remembers between 50 and 100 children throughout the year not having a CASA to advocate for them in court.
Because of this shortage of CASAs, the program began to hire staff GALs to supplement community CASA volunteers to meet the Federal mandate that all children have an advocate in court.
In 1996, the Guardian ad Litem program operated with a total budget of $3.8 million statewide dealing with about 4,800 child abuse or neglect cases resulting in about 400 volunteers and 3 or 4 full time GAL employees managing a statewide caseload of roughly 10,000 children 2.
In 2017, Minnesota child protection agencies received 84,148 reports of child maltreatment18. There were 263 volunteers, the program budget increased to 33 million dollars to pay for 213 full time employees (FTE’s), managing 8000 cases representing 17,000 children. 1
In 2024, Minnesota received over 82,000 reports of possible child abuse and neglect.3. Because of *Family First legislation providing services instead of investigations, the number of cases dropped to 4000 (1/2 of the 2017 cases) and were managed by 247 FTE’s and 12 remaining CASAs after management’s failed attempt to eliminate the CASA volunteer program.
In 2024, the GAL budget expanded to 46 million dollars – an increase of 40%, managing 52 more paid staff (a 24% increase) and still leaving growing numbers (300) of children without a Guardian ad Litem (due to shortage of staff and volunteers).
Historical retention of CASAs in the program has been between 4.9 years and 8.1 years compared to paid staff turnover today (including supervisors) of almost 50% with many open positions going unfilled because of the labor shortage and difficulty of the work. It takes about two years to train a good Guardian ad Litem. That’s when staff GALs are quitting today.
Current program management worked to end the CASA volunteer Guardian ad Litem program over the last three years and it appears that it is still slow walking the onboarding of volunteers at a time our state is experiencing severe problems with child safety and the highest number of children without a community advocate for them in court. Three years of destructive behavior towards a nationally successful program that has served hundreds of thousands of Minnesota children at the most dangerous and frightening time of their young life.
Who would do this and why? To those in charge, please review the initial complaints made during the 3 year effort to end the volunteer program.
More about the costs to the State by not having a Guardian ad Litem.
*Family Assessments offer services to the family instead of an investigation. Services can be declined with no further action taken by CPS.
You and I and our legislators need to solve this problem.
It is the only way it will be solved.
WHEN YOU Share KARA’s reporting with FRIENDS, INSTAGRAM & FACEBOOK and most of all,
your State Representative (find them here) change will come.
Read about the cash costs and saving details below in the Read More
Economics of Minnesota’s Guardians ad Litem program:
Between 2017 and 2024, ten times as much money became available to serve about half as many children in CPS.
Foster Care: GAL advocate in CPS reduce the child’s time in foster care by 7.5 months (an average savings of $15,000 per child or a savings to government agencies.
Today, about 300 children in CPS do not have a staff or CASA GAL in MN today largely because:
1.)The near elimination of the volunteer CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) program (from 300 to 12 volunteers), which historically provided stability and reduced caseloads for paid staff, in now leading to higher caseloads and more stress for the remaining employees567.
2).The difficult and complex nature of the work, which involves advocating for traumatized abused and neglected children in challenging family and legal situations, contributing to burnout and early exits526 (it is work that is hard to leave at the office) and,
3). Management and structural changes, because of the transition from a mixed volunteer/paid model to a fully paid staff model, have disrupted continuity and increased workload for new staff still learning their roles567.
4). The tight labor market and reduced State budget leaving wages low for a position that is experiencing an extremely high turnover due to burnout and poor results.
The result is a persistent vacancy rate, with as many as 24 open positions in a given month and a turnover rate as high as 17% or more, with some sources reporting nearly 50% annual turnover among staff and supervisors15. This instability undermines the program’s ability to provide consistent, high-quality advocacy for Minnesota’s most vulnerable children.
Children in CPS foster care have a significantly higher foster care cost because many of them have mental health and behavior issues that require more staff, more training and more healing and skill building programs. They also
The typical monthly cost of foster care for troubled youth in CPS programs generally ranges from $1,000 to $2,800 per month, (12,000 TO 34,000 dollars/year) depending on the state, care setting, and the level of the youth’s needs14589.
The total cost for a state ward child in the child welfare system, including medical, special needs, and foster care expenses, varies significantly based on the child’s needs and circumstances. Key findings from research indicate:
Cost Components
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Foster care maintenance: Covers basic needs like food, shelter, and clothing.
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Medical and therapeutic services: Includes physical/mental health support and specialized care for disabilities.
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Administrative and case management: Court costs, caseworker salaries, and agency oversight.
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Special needs allowances: Additional funding for birthdays, holidays, or disability-related expenses (e.g., up to $22.50/year in Arizona)4.
Estimated Total Costs
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Best-case scenario (shorter stay, fewer complications):
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$32,711 per child total investment2.
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Includes:
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Foster care maintenance
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Medical costs
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Court/administrative expenses
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High-needs scenario (extended stay, complex needs):
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$65,422 per child total investment2.
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Applies to children with:
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Severe medical or behavioral conditions
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Multiple placements or therapeutic interventions
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Extended time in care (e.g., aging out of the system)
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Factors Influencing Costs
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State reimbursement structures:
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Federal funding: Title IV-E reimburses 50–83% of eligible costs, varying by state1.
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Child-specific needs:
Long-Term Economic Impact
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For every $1 spent on foster care, studies show a negative social return on investment (ROI) of -$3.64 (best-case) to -$9.55 (high-needs)2, reflecting downstream costs like criminal justice involvement or lost productivity.
These figures represent direct government expenditures and exclude indirect societal costs. Actual expenses depend on individual needs, state policies, and duration in care124.
Quality of Life Impact
Quality of Life Issues Addressed for Children in Child Protection Services by CASA/GAL
Children involved with child protection services often experience significant disruptions and trauma, including removal from their homes, separation from siblings, and instability in their daily lives1. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and Guardians ad Litem (GAL) play a critical role in addressing and improving quality of life issues for these children.
Key Quality of Life Issues Addressed
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Stability and Permanency
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Emotional and Psychological Well-being
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Access to Needed Services
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Voice and Representation
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Continuity and Advocacy
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Because CASA/GALs typically have lower caseloads than social workers, paid staff GALs, and attorney GALs, they can dedicate more time to each child, providing continuity and advocacy throughout the case53.
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They monitor court orders and follow up to ensure that recommendations are implemented and that the child’s needs continue to be met2.
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Broader Impact on Quality of Life
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CASA/GAL advocacy can help children avoid “languishing” in foster care or inappropriate placements, reducing the risk of further trauma and instability51.
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Judges and research indicate that CASA/GAL involvement is associated with increased attention to the child’s long-term well-being and more informed court decisions34.
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Their work helps break cycles of neglect and abuse, laying the foundation for healthier futures for children in the child welfare system21.
Limitations and Considerations
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Some studies suggest that while CASA/GALs provide focused advocacy, children with CASA involvement may experience different permanency outcomes (such as lower odds of reunification but higher odds of adoption), reflecting the complexity of their cases and the influence of judicial discretion5.
This article submitted by former CASA volunteer & KARA board member Mike Tikkanen
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