Our mission is simple—join us for impact.
Nebraska CASA Association is a network of 22 local programs in Nebraska serving 55 counties. We recruit, screen, train and support Court Appointed Special Advocates. Those advocates are volunteers - just like you - who are appointed by a judge to speak for the well-being of abused and neglected children.
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Children Served
1,936
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Volunteer Hours
31,019
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Volunteer Miles
235,020
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Volunteers
788
You can help us make a dent by getting involved.
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More than 1,500 abused and neglected children in Nebraska are waiting for their CASA volunteer...Are you ready to change a child's life?
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Learn what it means to be a CASA Advocate. Join Nebraska CASA for a monthly virtual information session and learn how you can make an impact in your community!
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The Nebraska CASA Conference is the annual gathering of over 300 CASA volunteers & staff, board members, and our partners in child welfare from all parts of Nebraska. This year's conference theme is Step Up To The Plate and is IN PERSON only on August 25th & 26th at Courtyard by Marriott in La Vista.
News & Announcements
According to leading research, childhood domestic violence has a profound and lasting impact on a person’s life and hope for the future. Children from homes where domestic violence is/was prevalent are:
• 6 times more likely to commit suicide
• 50 times more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol
• 74 times more likely to commit violent crimes against another
CASA observes the effects of this violence manifesting at different points in children’s lives. Infants may see major developmental delays, excessive separation anxiety and regressions in development like forgetting potty training or becoming non-verbal. School-age children can manifest the effects of violence differently, with depression, self-destruction, aggressive behavior and problems in school. Over time, as a mechanism for coping, they become more likely to rationalize violence and lose their ability to empathize with the needs of others. Teenagers often exhibit increased suicide risk, drug and alcohol abuse, eating disorders and risky sexual behavior.
The good news is that children can heal from the effects of witnessing domestic violence if they are nurtured and feel safe. Having a consistent, attentive adult helps children cope better and CASA is committed to helping facilitate this healing. Therapy can make all the difference to these child victims.
Addressing this violence is important not simply for the children we serve but to prevent cycles of abuse from continuing. Children who witness abuse may grow up to become perpetrators or victims of domestic and sexual violence as they learn from their parents how they should behave.
For CASA volunteers and others helping abused and neglected children, getting the best possible outcome means digging deeper than the circumstances that brought a child into the system. Whether it is violence that children experienced themselves or that they witnessed, it can have profound impacts on their wellbeing and on their future. CASA volunteers make sure that they know all traumas that a child has faced, so that they can effectively advocate for the right services to help them heal.
For some foster children in Nebraska, this season can be a reminder that they lack the stability and support many other students and families take for granted. Nebraska CASA is asking you to tap into your unique life experiences and join us in offering foster children a treat far greater than candy: the gift of a dedicated advocate.
Every October 10, the world pauses to recognize World Mental Health Day—a reminder that mental well-being is not a luxury, but a foundation for a healthy life. For children who have experienced abuse, neglect, or the trauma of separation from family, mental health isn’t just a topic—it’s a daily struggle.
There are plenty of ways to get involved in your community this month. To get you started, we came up with six spooky-fun volunteering ideas for October.
