East-Central Court Appointed Special Advocates
The CASA Story
Each year, approximately 780,000 children in the US are caught up in the court and child welfare maze because they are unable to live safely at home. Imagine what it would be like to lose your parents, not because of something you did, but because they can’t—or won’t—take care of you. Now, into these children’s lives come dozens of strangers: police, foster parents, therapists, social workers, judges, lawyers, and more. Hopefully, one of these strangers is a CASA volunteer.
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 legal and social service system or languish in an inappropriate group or foster home. They stay with each case until it is closed and the child is placed in a safe, permanent home. For many abused children, their CASA volunteer will be the one constant adult presence—the one adult who cares only for them.
Last year, more than 70,900 CASA volunteers served more than 237,000 abused and neglected children through 1,055 program offices. CASA volunteers have helped more than two million abused children since the first program was established in 1977.
The National CASA Association was formed in 1982. Since that time, the National CASA movement has received much recognition:
· In 1985, President Ronald Regan presented the National CASA Association with the President’s Volunteer Action Award.
· In 1989, the American Bar Association officially endorsed the use of CASA volunteers to work with attorneys to speak for abused and neglected children in court.
·The U.S. Congress authorized the expansion of CASA with the “Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990”.
CASA Volunteers Make a Difference in the Lives of Children. Independent research has demonstrated the effectiveness of CASA volunteers in improving outcomes for children in care. A 2006 audit by the US Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General found that children with a CASA volunteer are substantially less likely to spend time in long-term foster care and less likely to reenter care. In addition, they receive more services.
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 legal and social service system or languish in an inappropriate group or foster home. They stay with each case until it is closed and the child is placed in a safe, permanent home. For many abused children, their CASA volunteer will be the one constant adult presence—the one adult who cares only for them.
Last year, more than 70,900 CASA volunteers served more than 237,000 abused and neglected children through 1,055 program offices. CASA volunteers have helped more than two million abused children since the first program was established in 1977.
The National CASA Association was formed in 1982. Since that time, the National CASA movement has received much recognition:
· In 1985, President Ronald Regan presented the National CASA Association with the President’s Volunteer Action Award.
· In 1989, the American Bar Association officially endorsed the use of CASA volunteers to work with attorneys to speak for abused and neglected children in court.
·The U.S. Congress authorized the expansion of CASA with the “Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990”.
CASA Volunteers Make a Difference in the Lives of Children. Independent research has demonstrated the effectiveness of CASA volunteers in improving outcomes for children in care. A 2006 audit by the US Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General found that children with a CASA volunteer are substantially less likely to spend time in long-term foster care and less likely to reenter care. In addition, they receive more services.
