Causes: Child Abuse Prevention, Children & Youth, Children & Youth Services, Crime & Law, Domestic Violence, Protection Against Abuse

Mission: The mission of the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association, together with its state and local members, is to support and promote court-appointed volunteer advocacy for abused and neglected children so that they can thrive in safe, permanent homes.

Target demographics: Foster Care Children in Douglas County, Nebraska

Geographic areas served: Douglas County Nebraska

Programs: CASA for Douglas County, as a member of both the National and Nebraska CASA associations, advocates for the best interests of abused and neglected children in Douglas County Juvenile Court and foster care proceedings through the use of trained, court appointed, citizen volunteers. These volunteers provide a voice for the children while ensuring that they are safe, that their needs are being met, and that efforts are made to expedite permanent homes for these children. It is CASA's court appointment and one-on-one approach that makes our organization different from any other child advocacy group. Each CASA volunteer monitors one child or sibling group at a time and remains involved for the life of the case, until a permanent and forever home is found for each child. At times, CASA volunteers are the only consistent adult presence in a foster child's world of revolving case workers, attorneys, foster parents, schools, and providers in the child welfare maze. CASA's are that one professional in a child's life who is not getting paid to be there!