4th Judicial District CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)

Mission: To serve as an effective voice in court for abused and neglected children, strengthening efforts to ensure that each child is living in a safe, permanent and nurturing home.

The Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program is a unique volunteer experience that aligns concerned citizens with abused and neglected children in their community.  CASA Advocates are ordinary people who have decided to volunteer their time and talents to ensure children who are already victims of abuse or neglect, are not further impacted by the system intended to protect them.

After receiving extensive pre-service training, the Advocate receives an order from the court appointing them to represent the needs and wishes of children in court proceedings and allows Advocate’s access to information about the child.  The Advocate meets with their assigned child or sibling group monthly and gathers information from everyone involved with that child such as caregivers, therapists, teachers and other providers.  Advocates prepare a Report to the Court for each hearing involving the child.  Through this report, the Advocate gives a voice to the child’s wishes and informs the court about what is in their best interest by advocating for the child’s needs.  CASA Advocates serve as a consistent presence in the life of their assigned child and remain assigned to the case until successful case closure.