Court Appointed Special Advocates facts for kids

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) is a group in the United States that helps children who have been abused or neglected. CASA volunteers are regular people from the community. They get special training and are chosen by a judge.

Their main job is to gather facts and suggest what is best for the child. They also make sure the child's own wishes are heard. There are over 93,000 CASA volunteers across 49 states and Washington, D.C. Each year, CASA helps more than 250,000 children.

How CASA Started

In 1977, a judge named David Soukup in Seattle, Washington, had to make important choices for children who had been abused. He only had information from state services. Judge Soukup thought that volunteers could help.

He believed these volunteers could focus on one child's case. They would speak up for what was best for that child. Fifty people volunteered for his idea. This started a movement to better help children across the U.S. By 2007, the National CASA Association had helped 2 million children.

CASA Today

Since it began, CASA programs have grown. They are now in 49 U.S. states and Washington, D.C. Each state's program manages its own money. Some get government help, while others do not. The national CASA group gets money from grants and partnerships. They work with non-profit groups and other organizations.

CASA volunteers are usually assigned to a child's case early on. In some states, a child also gets a lawyer called a guardian ad litem (GAL). This lawyer represents the child in court. Sometimes, a child might have both a CASA volunteer and a GAL.

There are over 400,000 children in foster care in the U.S. These children range in age from babies to young adults.

In March 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice paused some funding for the National CASA/GAL Association. This happened after a review of their finances. This pause caused some staff to take time off without pay. It also delayed money going to local CASA groups.

Becoming a CASA Volunteer

CASA volunteers are people from the community. They complete special training given by their local CASA office. This training includes at least 30 hours of classroom learning. Volunteers also spend time watching court cases. They continue to get more training each year.

All CASA volunteers must pass a background check. Each state creates its own program. They follow national training rules. There are no special school degrees needed to be a CASA volunteer. You just need to complete the training.

See also

• Child Protection and Obscenity Enforcement Act