Texas CASA

Description

Texas CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) is part of a national volunteer movement that began in 1977 in Seattle when a juvenile court judge conceived the idea of citizen volunteers speaking up for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the courtroom. Today, the CASA movement has evolved into one of the largest volunteer organizations in the country. CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to watch over and advocate for abused and neglected children to make sure they don’t get lost in the overburdened child protection system. Volunteers stay with each case until it is closed with the goal of ensuring the child is placed in a safe, permanent home. For many children, their CASA volunteer is the one constant adult presence in their lives.

In Texas, there are 72 local CASA programs with nearly 8,500 volunteers serving nearly 26,000 foster children in 213 counties across the state. Texas CASA is the statewide organization that provides funding, resources, and support to these 72 local programs, to ensure they can operate effectively and seek out the best possible volunteers who will work passionately to help children find their forever homes.