A CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) is a volunteer who is appointed by a judge to represent the best interests of a child involved in a legal case, typically related to abuse, neglect, or family court matters.
The volunteer advocate works closely with the child, their family, social workers, and other professionals to gather information, monitor the child's well-being, and provide the court with an independent and informed recommendation. Their goal is to ensure that the child's voice is heard and that their needs are met, helping to guide decisions that prioritize the child's safety, stability, and future welfare.
CASA’s are expected to:
Learn about the child and their families.
Engage with the child during regular visits
Speak up for the child in court and make recommendations regarding the child’s placement and needed services, and monitor the child’s situation until the case is released by the court
Collaborate with other involved parties to ensure that the necessary services are provided and are in the best interest of the child.
Report what you’ve learned and observed to the court
Our Values
WE BELIEVE...
We believe that every child has the right to thrive in a safe and permanent home.
We believe that all advocates, members of the Board of Directors, and friends of CASA should be welcomed, trained appropriately, appreciated, and supported by the staff and provided with a healthy environment in which to gather, work, and volunteer.
We believe that our staff deserves a collaborative and conducive atmosphere that allows them to fulfill the organization’s mission, one that demonstrates respect and value for each individual’s talents and gifts as they enhance the leadership of the team; promotes respect for each individual’s role, opinions, time, and space; focuses on hiring competent people suited to each position in the organization; and provides continuing education opportunities.
We believe that our donors deserve to be educated and informed of CASA’s mission and goals, to see evidence of financial responsibility, to be inspired to invest in our longevity, to be recognized with respect and confidentiality for their gifts and generosity, and to have questions on how their dollars are spent answered in a timely and transparent manner.
We believe that we have an obligation to our community to elevate awareness of our program and the broader child welfare concerns including poverty, diversity, mental health, substance abuse, domestic violence, and other issues impacting families and to continually expand collaborative efforts with other community agencies and court partners to achieve common goals.
We believe that our goals and objectives must always be aligned with our mission, vision, and values. We take great pride in being an organization that is united with our legal partners to ensure that all maltreated children have the right to competent, well-trained CASA/GAL volunteers who will positively impact their lives and future outcomes.