What is a CASA?
Right now in Yolo County there are over 200 children in foster care. We want to see a day when every child in foster care has a CASA. But we can’t do it alone.
When you say “yes” to being a CASA volunteer, you say “yes” to investing in the lives of our most vulnerable children for 18 months or more. You will have the unique opportunity to ensure a youth in foster care’s needs are heard in the courtroom.
Specifically, a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is a specially trained and supported community volunteer, appointed by a judge. CASAs make a difference in the lives of abused and neglected children by working with the child and everyone in that child’s life to monitor how they are doing while in the foster care system. CASAs usually advocate for only one or two children at a time, allowing ample time to gather thorough information. They build relationships with their “CASA” kids, spending time with them and gathering facts about their situation so they can report back to the judge to allow for decision making that is in the child’s best interest.
When children are abused or severely neglected, they must rely on adults to help them obtain justice and services. While that is the intent of the social service and Juvenile Court systems, all too often these systems are fraught with escalating caseloads and reduced resources.
Children presently average more than three years in the limbo of foster care with their futures unresolved and uncertain. The judge, with as little as ten minutes to determine a child’s fate, faces increasingly complex cases, limited support services, and disjointed, insufficient or outdated information on which to make sound decisions.
Because of this, CASAs are essential for getting children in foster care the resources and outcomes they need to have a chance at a better life. Some of these outcomes include a higher likelihood of graduating from high school and attending college, and better physical and mental health for a lifetime. Past volunteers have characterized their service as a CASA as one of the most rewarding experiences they’ve had.
In short, relationships are powerful. You will get to see the power of this relationship firsthand through your weekly meetings with a youth in foster care where you can go out for ice cream, fly a kite, or see a movie. These fun outings will be the foundation of your relationship and most of all, advocacy! Thank you for your interest!
Next Steps
Click here to learn the steps to becoming a Yolo County CASA.
Click here to see if you meet the qualifications and expectations to become a CASA.
Click here to sign up for an information session to learn more.
Fill out the form on this page, or email us at info@yolocasa.org to learn more about becoming a CASA.
