Our goal is to serve at least 200 California youth per year. We receive youth referrals from CASA organizations throughout California, and continuously recruit to create a diverse network of participating California therapists.

Each young person will:

• Be matched with a therapist appropriate to their individual needs and goals
• Receive free weekly therapy on an ongoing basis
• Be supported by CASA and other partners in meeting their additional needs

Each volunteer therapist will:

• Receive regular group and individual clinical consultation
• Have access to at least two free continuing education events per month
• Be welcomed to A Home Within’s nationwide network of professionals

Since launching in 2020, the A Home Within-CASA Therapy Project has matched nearly 100 current and former foster youth with dedicated volunteer therapists. The goal of the Project is to serve at least 200 California youth per year.

Since 2001, the Foster Care Research Group at the University of San Francisco, led by Dr. Saralyn Ruff, has measured treatment outcomes among A Home Within clients. Findings include a significant reduction of mental health symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and dissociative states among participating youth.

Building on this research and thanks to the generous support of a local family foundation, A Home Within is greatly expanding its program evaluation. In 2021 and early 2022, Dr. Ruff and Dr. Deanna Linville of the University of Oregon are simultaneously conducting both a longitudinal study of outcomes among A Home Within youth and a community-based participatory action research process in preparation for a randomized controlled trial to be implemented beginning in 2022.

Project volunteers commit to providing free, open-ended, one on one therapy. At current market rates, the value of the service is close to $10,000 per match, per year. With our goal of serving 200 youth per year, we expect the total value of the service to be $2 million per year. Our total program budget is just over $400,000 making the expected return on investment at least 5:1.

The long-term goal of the Project is to replicate the model by partnering with other CASA organizations across California and other states. Nationwide, there are over 900 local CASA programs. With adequate support, the project can grow to serve thousands of current and former foster youth, providing them with the long-term, relationship-based support that can help heal trauma, build resilience, and establish a healthy, happy life.