Our mission is to independently speak for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the Tenth Judicial Circuit. We promote and provide quality volunteer representation that upholds each child's right to a safe, permanent, and nurturing home.
Vision Statement
Our goal is to be able to provide a CASA volunteer for every child who needs one.
Court Appointed Special Advocates are specially trained community volunteers appointed by a judge to speak for the best interests of children who come to the attention of the court for reasons of abuse and neglect.
Each year, many children are removed from abusive homes and placed in alternative care. While these children may be too immature and vulnerable to speak for themselves, they need a voice to speak up for them. It is up to a judge to decide what services should be provided and whether the child should remain in foster care, be reunited with their parents, placed with relatives, or be free for adoption. That's where CASA comes in.
The CASA volunteer looks out for the best interests of the child throughout the case and makes objective, fact based recommendations on the child’s behalf.
CASA volunteers are an official part of judicial proceedings working alongside attorneys, social workers, and juvenile officers. By handling only one or two cases at a time the CASA volunteer has time to thoroughly explore the history of each assigned case. The volunteer talks with the child, family members, teachers, doctors, and others involved who might have facts pertaining to the case or the child's background. Furthermore, he or she attends hearings and meetings on the child’s behalf. The volunteer reviews all records and continues to monitor the case to assure that services are being delivered as promised. Moreover, the volunteer visits with the child regularly to ascertain how well he or she is doing. The CASA volunteer ensures that a permanency plan has been created and that the child will ultimately have a safe, permanent, and nurturing home.
Once appointed to a case, CASA volunteers spend
an average of 10 hours a month fulfilling their duties.