Advancing Trauma-Informed Advocacy

Now in its third year of support from the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey (HFNJ), CASA Essex is deepening and embedding trauma-informed advocacy as a foundational part of how we serve children.

What began as a focused initiative has evolved into a comprehensive, organization-wide approach—one that is shaping how staff, volunteers, and partners understand and respond to the experiences of children who have faced instability, loss, and trauma.

Over the past two years, CASA Essex has trained nearly 160 advocates and staff in trauma-informed practices, while expanding learning opportunities through ongoing trainings, symposiums, and leadership development. Now, the focus is on sustainability and full integration to ensure that trauma-informed thinking is not a program, but a permanent standard embedded in every aspect of our work.

Key components of this effort have included advanced training for advocates and supervisors, the development of a trauma-informed advocacy manual, and the launch of a team of Lead Trauma-Informed Advocates—peer leaders who provide coaching and support across cases. Together, these elements continue to strengthen our ability to approach each child with empathy, build trust, and connect youth to the services they need.

This work is also extending beyond CASA Essex. By documenting our model and sharing tools with other programs across New Jersey, we are helping to elevate trauma-informed practice across the broader child welfare system.

At its core, this initiative reflects a lasting shift in how CASA Essex operates. Trauma-informed advocacy is no longer an added layer—it is the foundation of our work, strengthening outcomes for children today and for years to come.