CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of San Joaquin

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) are volunteers and ordinary citizens, like you, doing extraordinary work. CASA volunteers establish stable relationships with foster children, getting to know their unique history and making informed recommendations to the courts.

When a child has an advocate, she is more likely to get needed services — and a permanent, stable home. Are you eager to make a difference in a child’s life? Become a volunteer.

CASA of San Joaquin County is currently recruiting community volunteers. CASA volunteers serve as the “eyes and ears” for the Court, and provide a “voice” for the child throughout a sometimes very complicated court process. CASA of San Joaquin County provides the screening, training and on-going support necessary to be successful advocates for the neediest of children in our County. Volunteers are asked to give a minimum commitment of 18 months for the resolution of permanent placement for the CASA child. The CASA volunteer provides continuity by staying on the case until it is permanently resolved. Volunteers are expected to have contact with their CASA child every week, attend court hearings as needed, and provide written reports to the court. The written reports include all interviews, visits, and assessments taken by the CASA in regard to recommending a safe permanent placement for the CASA child.

CASA – A Powerful Voice in a Child’s Life

CASA of San Joaquin County was founded in January of 2002 upon the encouragement of San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge John Parker. Judge Parker feels that CASA Program volunteers will give consistency and attention to each child in an overwhelmed dependency court system. San Joaquin County has over 1,400 children in foster care, with 130 county social workers who respond to all referrals and cover all programs from intake to permanent placement and 10 local attorneys who contract with the court to represent the families of dependent children and the minors themselves. There are approximately 1,600 dependency cases pending. San Joaquin County is the 40th county in California to start a CASA Program.

CASA of San Joaquin County operates as a program of the Child Abuse Prevention Council (CAPC). The CASA Program endeavors to ensure that abused, neglected and abandoned children who have become dependents of the San Joaquin County Court will have a safe and permanent home. Through a network of trained advocates, CASA of San Joaquin County will work closely with the Court, Human Service Agency, the child’s legal counsel and community agencies to identify and protect the best interests of each child in the consideration of recommending permanent placement for the child.