A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Volunteer is a trained citizen who is appointed by a judge to represent the best interests of a child in court. Most of the children are victims of abuse and neglect, and have been removed from their homes. Children helpd by CASA Volunteers include those for whom placement is being determined in juvenile court. A CASA Volunteer provides a judge wtih carefully researched background details about the child to help the court make a sound decision about the child's future. The CASA Volunteer must determine if the best interest of the child is staying with their parents or guardians, being placed in foster care, or being freed for permanent adoption. The CASA makes a recommendation on placement to the judge and follows through on the case until it is permanently resolved.
