The federal government has restored tens of millions of dollars in funding to the National CASA/GAL Association for Children, the nonprofit that coordinates volunteer advocates for foster youth, after the organization revised its training manuals to omit references to diversity, equity and inclusion.
According to internal documents, CASA affiliates across the country were directed to skip or alter sections of volunteer training that addressed racial disparities, cultural influences, or issues facing LGBTQ+ children in the foster care system. Slides, handouts, and facilitator guides previously highlighting inequality, bias, and disproportionality statistics were marked for removal beginning in mid-May. Even the volunteer self-assessment checklist was stripped of questions about personal bias and cultural competence.
The changes come amid broader federal directives under the Trump administration, which has pressured grantees to avoid DEI-related terminology. For CASA, the adjustments followed a turbulent two years of financial scrutiny. The organization had previously been labeled a “high-risk grantee” and returned funds deemed improperly documented. In April, its largest federal grants — totaling nearly $49 million — were abruptly cancelled.
By August, however, Deputy CEO Sally Erny announced that CASA had successfully appealed the termination. The Department of Justice concluded, after review, that the group’s programs were aligned with its priorities to protect children. CASA leaders declined to explain the specific reasons behind the reversal, but confirmed their national funding was restored.
The decision drew political attention. Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff, a Democrat, claimed credit for helping push the administration to reverse course, stating the initial suspension had jeopardized vital services for vulnerable children.
Court Appointed Special Advocates, often called CASAs, play a high-profile role in child welfare by making recommendations to judges on behalf of foster children. Volunteers undergo at least 30 hours of training before being assigned to cases. National CASA, which oversees more than 900 independent affiliates nationwide, has received over $300 million in Justice Department funding during the past two decades.
Still, the updated training guidelines have sparked concern. Entire glossaries on gender identity, racism, sexism, and xenophobia have been cut, while trainers were instructed to use “LGB” instead of “LGBTQ.” Critics, including child welfare scholars, warned that erasing these discussions undermines support for groups disproportionately represented in foster care, such as children of color and LGBTQ+ youth.
“CASA has always been seen as a voice for children who have none,” said Gerald Mallon, a professor at Hunter College. “But if certain groups are excluded from the conversation, how can they truly represent all children?”
Former CASA employees echoed worries that the revisions reflect a growing chill on acknowledging the unique challenges faced by marginalized foster youth. Others described the move as a necessary compromise to secure crucial funding in an increasingly hostile political climate toward DEI initiatives.
As federal agencies continue to tighten rules on nonprofit spending and language, CASA finds itself at the intersection of politics and child welfare — balancing its mission to advocate for children with the realities of government oversight.