CASA of Santa Cruz County

Mission

CASA is a child's voice in the dependency court system, providing advocacy, stability, and hope to children who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned.

Overview

For more than 20 years, Court Appointed Special Advocates, CASA, has been serving children in the foster care system who have been neglected or abused. By bringing the children friendship, health and educational resources and emotional support through weekly visits, our dedicated volunteers make a life-changing difference for children. And by helping the most vulnerable children, CASA’s work helps to build a stronger and more stable community for us all.

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) brings hope to local children whose lives have been uprooted by abuse or neglect. CASA recruits, train, and professionally supervise adult volunteer Advocates who serve children removed from their family homes and placed in the county's foster care system.

CASA's work is proven to prevent many of the tragedies that too often occur in the foster care system. Children who are served by a volunteer CASA Advocate: • Have more stability while in foster care • Receive more of the physical, emotional and education resources they need. • Are less likely to return to the system because of repeat abuse The fears and challenges of living in foster care can be overwhelming to a child, but a one-on-one relationship with a CASA volunteer can make a life-changing difference.

As many as 600 local children each year live in the Santa Cruz County foster care system because of parental abuse or neglect.Learn how you can make a difference!