CASA of Hampden County
Cause Area
- Advocacy & Human Rights
- Children & Youth
- Community
- Justice & Legal
Location
246 Park StreetWest Springfield, MA 01089 United StatesWebsite:
http://www.chd.org/casaOrganization Information
Mission Statement
In Massachusetts there re over 10,000 children in an overburdened foster-care system. Volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) increase successful outcome for kids. The Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Program of Hampden County trains community volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children in the court system. Volunteers provide judges with facts gained through investigation and ongoing committed relationships, allowing the court to make informed decisions that are focused on the best interest of the child.
Description
CASA Staff recruit, train, and supervise community members who volunteer to advocate for children in the foster care system.
Volunteer Community Members like you are sworn in by a Juvenile Court Judge after completing a 40-hour pre-service training program. Certified CASAs bring a wide range of work and life experience to support their CASA kids.
CASA of Hampden County is one of six Massachusetts CASA programs and 950 programs nation-wide. Volunteers in Hampden County, at the request of Springfield and Holyoke Juvenile Courts, advance child-focused decision making by providing an unbiased community voice about a child’s best interest. CASA Volunteers promote consistency for children by remaining appointed to a child for the length of their case.
Certified CASAs spend time building relationships and communicating with child(ren), adults, and service providers because advocacy for educational, behavioral, medical, family, and cultural needs takes place in and out of court.
The Fall Pre-Service Training Course begins this October. Register for a Virtual Information Session today to find out how to get involved! www.chd.org/CASA