1,411 children in St. Louis are in need of a CASA volunteer.
CASA volunteers are individuals from all walks of life who speak up for a child's best interests in court. You are not a foster parent, you are a voice making a real difference at a critical turning point in the child's life.
Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers get to know the child and gather information from everyone involved in their daily life, including family members, foster parents, teachers, daycare providers, doctors, lawyers, social workers and other relevant persons.
CASA volunteers use the information gathered to report to the judge, advocating for the child’s needs while in the foster care system. As a volunteer, you commit to represent a child’s best interests while they are in care.
CASA volunteers are the one nonpaid adult who remains with the child throughout their child welfare case and consistently knows more about the child than any other professional involved in the child’s life.
CASA volunteers provide a consistent adult presence during what can be a traumatic time, fulfilling a legal capacity with citizen advocacy and reducing costs due to increased outcomes.
National CASA data shows that older children with a CASA volunteer are more likely to be adopted instead of staying in foster care through the age of 18.
Children with CASA volunteers are also half as likely to re-enter foster care. On average, children who are assigned CASA volunteers spend eight months fewer in foster care and receive more services than those without an advocate.
