What is a CASA
CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate.
CASAs are concerned community members who volunteer their time to help keep children from falling through the cracks of the foster care system.
When a child is removed from his family, a court makes this difficult decision and oversees the child while he is in the foster care system. There are court hearings where important choices are made regarding the child's life and future-including what kind of services are needed, what kind of family visitation should occur, and ultimately, who will raise the child.
CASAs are the eyes and ears of the court. With the support of ProKids staff, CASAs investigate the circumstances of children and their families. They talk with relatives, foster parents, social worker, teachers, therapists and others to understand how the child is doing and to determine what needs to happen for a child to move towards the safe, permanent, and nurturing home every child deserves.
The CASA makes recommendations to the court about what is best for the child. With the information provided by the CASA, the court then can make the most informed decision about a child' future.
CASAs come from all walks of life, but they all bring gifts:
-the gift of time to get to know a child and to understand his needs,
-the gift of common sense to work toward what it best for a child and,
-the gift of caring enough to help lead a child towards a better future.