What is a CASA?
A CASA, or Court Appointed Special Advocate, is a dedicated community volunteer who has been trained to advocate for the needs of children involved in the child welfare system due to parental abuse or neglect.
When the state and court become involved in protecting children’s safety because the people responsible for them have not, a judge appoints a trained CASA volunteer to be their voice in court.
The unique knowledge of a child’s situation allows the CASA volunteer to make independent and informed recommendations to the court that help the judge decide what is in a child’s best interest.
Who We Are
The Porter County CASA Program is a member of the National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Association for Children. Locally, Porter County CASA has been a program of the Family & Youth Services Bureau since 1989.
Our mission is to recruit, train, and support volunteers who provide quality, child-centered advocacy that leads to a safe home and promising future for every child who is a victim of abuse or neglect.
Impact
The health and viability of our community depend on the investment in our most vulnerable children.
CASA representation ensures that every child impacted by abuse or neglect receives the support of a caring and consistent volunteer during the toughest time in their life. It ensures that children remain top priority in an overburdened child welfare system, and gives them a better chance at breaking dysfunctional life cycles so they may ultimately heal and thrive in a safe and nurturing environment.
A single volunteer can often help to break the cycle of violence and neglect – not just for one child, but for generations to come.
The value of CASAs speaking up for children in the court process has never been more vital.
Studies have shown that a child who is appointed a CASA volunteer is less likely to re-enter the foster care system, and more likely to do better in school and find a safe and permanent home.