Mission Statement
The Court Appointed Special Advocate Program, CASA of Maricopa County is a volunteer-driven organization committed to serving abused and neglected children. CASA represents the voices of these children in the Maricopa County juvenile court system and advocates for their best interests in the judicial, educational, medical, and social service communities. CASA volunteers visit with court assigned children, their foster parents or other living placement, teachers, social workers, therapists, and court personnel. Additional hours are spent writing court reports and testifying, providing recommendations to the court reflecting the best interests of the children to ensure that the children have a safe and permanent home. This is an opportunity to work directly with children dealing with abuse issues and to work within the child welfare professional community. Volunteers are professionally trained and supervised.
Description
CASA of Maricopa County - East Valley
The Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program is the only agency authorized to advocate for the best interests of these child victims in Arizona. CASA volunteers hold to the belief that there are no hopeless children, only children who have yet to experience hope. Our Special Advocates work with the children, the courts and the child welfare system to help find children safe, permanent homes as quickly as possible.
Who Becomes a CASA Volunteer?
CASA volunteers are everyday people just like you. They are realtors, school principals, pilots, web designers, plumbers, small business owners, retirees and stay-at-home moms and dads and vary in age from 21 to 83.
No special skills or degrees are required, only the desire to make a difference in an abused child's life. Volunteers must be 21 years of age, pass a criminal background check, and complete our pre-service training program. An application and interview are required before training.
The only special background you should have is the heart to care for the most vulnerable children in our community, and the determination to do something about their current situation.
