Court Appointed Special Advocate

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Court-appointed special advocate (CASA) volunteers make a life-changing difference for children who have experienced abuse or neglect.

Each volunteer is appointed by a judge to advocate for a child’s best interest in court. Our volunteers help judges develop a fuller picture of each child’s life. Their advocacy enables judges to make the most well-informed decision for each child.

Volunteers complete 30 hours of training through a mix of in person and online classes and court observations and are then certified by the court. CASA Volunteers are assigned to a child's case, and get to know the child and their family to represent the best interests of that child to the court.

The primary responsibilities of a CASA volunteer are to:

• Gather Information: Carry out an objective examination of the situation including relevant history, environment, relationships and needs of the child.
• Facilitate: Based on the information gathering process, identify appropriate resources and services for the child and family. In collaboration with your CASA supervisor, follow the referral procedure to initiate services. Coordinate with the services organization to expedite service delivery and move the case forward.
• Advocate: Speak up for the child by making fact-based recommendations regarding the child’s best interest in a written court report.
• Monitor: Track the orders of the court and plans of the child protective agency regarding fulfillment of treatment and services plans for all parties. If parties fail to carry out plans, inform the court in collaboration with the child protective services agency.