CASA volunteers are screened, comprehensively trained, and supervised by CASA program staff to watch over and advocate for abused and neglected children.
CASA volunteers:
· Visit their case children routinely to assess their well being
· Check in with teachers, care providers, and biological parents
· Arrange necessary services for their case children
· Submit reports to the Court with recommendations on what’s in the child’s best interests
In 2024, some 7,558 children across the state were under the jurisdiction of Connecticut's juvenile courts (child protection side) due to allegations of abuse or neglect. In a given month, there are more than 3,000 children in care outside of their parents’ homes due to concerns for their safety. There is a tremendous burden on the State to provide appropriate care and oversight for these children.
CASA programs ease this burden and advance better long-term outcomes for children by providing a consistent adult to be there for the child throughout this unsettling time in his or her life. The CASA movement represents an ideal public-private partnership, helping the State to safeguard the best interests of children while also limiting the cost of caring for those children.
A child with a CASA Volunteer is:
- More likely to be adopted or have a plan for permanency
- More likely to succeed in school
- Half as likely to re-enter the foster care system
Data shows a child with a CASA volunteer advocate leaves the system 25% faster.
