A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is a caring, consistent adult who stands alongside a child who has been removed from their home due to abuse or neglect. CASA volunteers gather information from those involved in the child's life—teachers, doctors, foster parents, daycare providers, and others—and use that knowledge to advocate for the child’s best interests in court.
They get to know the child personally and speak on their behalf, especially when the child is too young or overwhelmed to speak for themselves. Their role is not just to observe, but to amplify the child’s voice and ensure their needs are heard by the juvenile court judge. For juvenile court judges, CASA volunteers are their eyes and ears in the community.
Children with a CASA volunteer are more likely to receive necessary services, experience fewer foster placements, and reach a safe, permanent home sooner.
Now more than ever, CASA volunteers are urgently needed. With frequent changes in the child welfare system, important details about a child’s situation can fall through the cracks. A CASA volunteer helps ensure that it doesn't happen.
