Court Appointed Special Advocate for Children (CASA)

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We connect community members with children who have been abused or neglected and are in foster care. Our volunteers provide a voice for the child during court hearings which determine what is a safe and permanent home for the child. Our volunteers are trained and sworn in by a judge to become a Court Appointed Special Advocate and provided with guidance by our staff.

Through our volunteers, CASA of Marion County, Inc. advocates for abused and neglected children who need safe and permanent homes. CASA Volunteers are a caring and consistent adult presence for abused and neglected children: For many abused and neglected children facing multiple challenges, a CASA volunteer may be the one constant adult presence in their lives.

Advocates stay with each case until it is closed and the child is placed in a safe, permanent home. For this reason, we ask for a two-year time commitment.

CASA Programs use effective evidence-based practices: Independent studies have established that a child with a CASA volunteer is more likely to find a safe and permanent home; more likely to be adopted; half as likely to re-enter foster care; and substantially less likely to spend time in long-term foster care than children without a CASA volunteer. In order for CASA to fully accomplish its mission, our volunteers, staff and board will be cognizant of and sensitive to each child’s/family’s frame of reference, including their heritage, culture, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, socio-economic status, place of birth, disabilities, and/or family structure. Volunteers will be able to sensitively communicate with the child and their family and in turn appropriately communicate the child’s needs to the court while considering diversity, equity, and inclusion for each case.