CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) volunteers are well-trained volunteers from the community who speak in court for the best interests of abused and neglected.  Children helped by CASA volunteers include those for whom home placement is being determined in the juvenile court.  All of the children are victims of abuse and neglect. 

CASA volunteers are appointed to a case by the judge, and the volunteer's goal is to provide a carefully researched background of the child to help the court make a sound decision about the child's future. Each home placement case is as unique as the child involved. The CASA volunteer must determine if it is in a child's best interests to stay with his or her parents or guardians, be placed in foster care, or be freed for permanent adoption. The CASA volunteer makes a recommendation on placement and follows through on the case until it is permanently resolved. CASA volunteers remain assigned to a child for the life of the case and are often the only stable factor in what can be a frightening and difficult ordeal of trials and placements for a child in the court system. 

For more information on becoming a CASA volunteer, click here.