Last week, two leading child advocacy groups released a study that rated states on the quality and nature of information they released about child fatalities and near fatalities of kids in their child welfare systems.

Our laws protect the privacy of abused and neglected children. Kids shouldn 't be stigmatized because they 've been traumatized or injured by family members.

But a protective wall of confidentiality is also a barrier to our fundamental understanding of what kids experience during child welfare interventions. Most of the public doesn 't really know what 's on the other side of that wall.

If you are a caring adult who is brave enough to walk with a child through the thicket of the child welfare system; if you are willing to make a one-year, volunteer commitment of four to 10 hours per week; if you are willing to talk and listen to people on behalf of an abused or neglect child, it is possible that a life-altering experience awaits you as a CASA volunteer.

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) are "Friends of the Court, " sworn and appointed by a judge to work with a child in need of protective services.

As a CASA volunteer, you have weekly, face-to-face visits with your assigned child, making objective observations about the child 's safety and well being, about how they are coping, growing, and interacting with others and the environment.

Based on these observations, a review of confidential records as well as discussions with the child 's teacher (or day care provider), social worker, pediatrician, therapist and others, you write monthly reports for the court.

Your reports help guide the judge in making life-changing decisions for the child -- such as where the child should permanently live, with whom and why.

You act as a voice for the child, carrying their wishes to the court so the judge knows what your child really wants, even if it may not be in the child 's best interests. And if you believe the child has needs that are not being met, you have an important opportunity to make that known to the judge, who has the power to order action.

Research shows that kids who have a CASA volunteer are much less likely to end up returning to foster care, and judges believe that kids with CASAs are more likely to get the services they really need from the child welfare system.

This work is not easy. These kids and their families face real challenges, and as a CASA volunteer, you 'll see and learn things you never imagined.

But if you want to really help a child, have a meaningful experience yourself and see what the child welfare system is like from an inside perspective, this is an opportunity like no other.

Contact the Wisconsin CASA Association. Your interest is welcome and needed.

Kitty Kocol is executive director of Wisconsin CASA Association in Madison; kittykocol.wicase@att.net.