Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Children recruits, trains and supports citizen-volunteers who advocate for abused and neglected children in the community and in the courtroom. A CASA volunteer is directly empowered by the courts to provide one-to-one advocacy for abused and neglected children.

Our Solution.jpgThis unique blend of private support, public need and the kind of people power that comes from 77,000 volunteers leverages each dollar of investment to achieve unprecedented results. In fact, several studies, including a report by the U.S. Department of Justice, have validated the work of CASA volunteers.

A CASA Child

A child with a CASA volunteer is:

• Half as likely to re-enter foster care
• Substantially less likely to spend time in long-term foster care
• More likely to do better in school
• More likely to be adopted
• More likely to have a positive attitude towards the future, an ability to work with others and to resolve conflicts

Since its founding by a family court judge in 1977, CASA for Children has helped assure a safe transition to a loving home for more than 2 million children in foster care. Here are a few more numbers:

• 946 community-based CASA programs
• 77,000 CASA volunteers
• 234,000 children served in 2011
• 1 paid CASA staff supports 30 volunteers who serve 75 children!

400,000

But there is a far more important number: 400,000

400,000 children in America who are still waiting for their volunteer. Waiting for that one trusted adult who will stick with them until their case is resolved. Waiting because today CASA for Children can serve only 35% of the children in the foster care system.

You can help change that number. Donate. Join us. Spread the word.