What is CASA?

When a child enters the foster care system because his or her home is no longer safe due to abuse or neglect, a Judge may appoint a committed volunteer to advocate for the best interests of the child or youth in court and other settings.  That volunteer is called a Court Appointed Special Advocate, or CASA.

What is a CASA Advocate?

CASA volunteers are members of the community who have been appointed by a Juvenile Court Judge to advocate for the best interests of a child in the care of DCFS.  These children have been taken out of their homes and away from their families.  They often feel very alone – until they meet their CASA.  CASAs are not foster parents, or lawyers, and they are not social workers: CASAs are the voice for abused and neglected children.

What does a CASA do?

CASA volunteers are appointed specifically to a child or group of children in the same family.  They provide a source of consistency and stability in a child’s life by visiting them at least once per month.  They know the children, gather important information from reports and professionals involved in the lives of the children.  With this knowledge, they advocate for the best interests of the child in relation to their education, health, housing placements, and their overall well-being.  They provide court reports to the Judge with the information they gather to defend the best interests of the children.