CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate.
CASA volunteers are community members just like you, who are appointed by judges to watch over and advocate for abused and neglected children. Volunteers stay with each case until it is closed and the child is placed in a safe, permanent home. For many abused children, their CASA will be the one constant adult the child knows as they navigate through the court system, providing much needed stability. Once appointed by the judge, CASAs research the case, review documents, interview people, and make a report to the court regarding what is in the “best interest” of abused and neglected children in terms of services, placement, visitation, reunification and permanency!
Depsite the COVID-19 global pandemic, there is still a huge need for volunteers! So far this year, CASA by the Lakes has been able to serve 102 children and close 34 cases. At this moment, we have 46 active volunteers that are serving 68 children in Marshall and Calloway Counties. All donations raised directly supports the efforts of our volunteers as they continue to advocate for children and families.
Below is a testimonial from a young woman whose life was positively impacted by her CASA volunteer,
"I was 7 years old the first time I was taken from my home. Foster homes came and went. Schools were here and there. Caseworkers drifted in and out of my life. After six years of placement, the court appointed Pat.
Pat came to see me quite often and called me when she couldn’t come in person. She worked with my lawyers to appeal the court’s decision. She got me visits with my old foster family, made sure I was seeing my therapist regularly, and checked with my teachers to make sure I was managing in school. She brought me newspaper clippings of youth who made it through hard times and of students who were able to get scholarships to cover their education.
I never had someone stand for me like she did. She stood before the judges, the lawyers, my mother, and caseworkers and wasn’t swayed by their opinions. It completely amazed me. I trusted her more with every visit. She became not only an advocate but a friend.
Earlier this year, I testified to a legislative committee on behalf of the CASA program. At the end of the testimony I said, “To give a child a CASA is to give them a voice. To give them a voice is to give them hope, and to give them hope is to give them the world”. As a child who was assigned a CASA years ago, I believe that with all my heart"
Please visit our website or give us a call at (270) 761-0164 or (270) 387-0063 to find out more about becoming a volunteer!
