How Does CASA Help Children
A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is the independent voice for a vulnerable child navigating trauma through abuse or neglect while living in the foster care system, often experiencing continually changing placements, ensuring that child is heard, seen, and believed and helping them through the family court system.
CASAs advocate for, and inspire and empower, the children to whom they are assigned by teaching them how to be resilient, not just surviving their circumstances but thriving as they learn to overcome their adversities.
Specifically, an advocate stands up for their assigned child being the consistent, caring and steady presence he/she can rely on during a difficult and confusing time. They focus on determining what is in the child’s best interest, making recommendations to DSS and the courts, ensuring the child is receiving all necessary services.
Support that Matters
CASAs support the child to whom they are assigned by (1) getting to know the child and understanding their unique needs; (2) speaking up for the child in court proceedings and through court reports; (3) advocating for safe, permanent outcomes; and (4) working alongside attorneys, social workers, and foster families.
The work of an advocate matters because children with a CASA volunteer are more likely to (1) perform better in school, (2) receive needed services, and (3) find safe, permanent homes faster than children without an advocate.
A Life-Changing Difference
A CASA volunteer makes a life-changing difference through personalized advocacy by:
Providing a stable, supportive presence through their court case as they work toward being reunified with their parents;
Gathering information and advocating for the child’s best interest, making recommendations to the judge;
Ensuring the child’s educational, medical, emotional, and development needs are identified and addressed; and
Building a trusting relationship by spending time with the child, listening, and letting them know they matter.
Four Core Roles
A CASA helps a child through four core roles:
Monitor & Factfinder: The CASA thoroughly reviews all records (medical, educational, legal) and interviews everyone involved in the child's life—teachers, doctors, foster parents, family members, and social workers—to understand the complete picture.
Voice in Court: The advocate submits detailed written reports and recommendations directly to the judge regarding the child’s placement, healthcare, and education. Judges heavily rely on these objective reports when deciding whether a child should be reunited with family, stay in foster care, or be placed for adoption.
Service Monitor: The CASA ensures that court-ordered services—such as trauma therapy, tutoring, or medical care—are being delivered promptly to the child and family.
Consistent Adult Support: Children in foster care frequently experience changing social workers, lawyers, and placement homes. The CASA stays on the case until it is closed, providing a stable, reliable presence and building a trusting relationship with the child.
The CASA volunteer has a direct impact on permanency, education and care. Children assigned to a CASA are 50% less likely to re-enter the foster care system. They are also twice as likely to find a safe, stable, loving, and permanent home faster. Additionally, children served by a CASA are significantly more likely to perform better in school and receive necessary mental health services.
Overall, the time a volunteer advocate spends with a child in foster care changes the trajectory of that child’s life. Through better outcomes, children with CASA volunteers are more likely to receive needed services, do better in school, and achieve greater stability.
