Washington CASA Association

Mission

The Washington CASA Association supports and promotes court appointed volunteer advocacy so every child who has experienced abuse or neglect can be safe, have a permanent home, and the opportunity to thrive.

On average, it costs $172 to recruit 1 CASA Volunteer or just $14 a month. These volunteers stay through the life of a child's case.  Throughout their time as a CASA Volunteer, on average, each caring adult helps 7 children in abuse and neglect cases.

Description

We believe that no one should go through our complex legal system alone, especially a child!  

Washington CASA Association exists to support a network of eight locally based CASA programs in nine counties that provide quality volunteer advocacy to thousands of children who have experienced abuse and neglect.  Specifically we promote and support the formation, recruitment, training, development and activities of local CASA/GAL programs.

CASA (Court appointed special advocate) and GAL (guardian ad litem) volunteers (what they're called varies by location) are well-trained and become the voice for a child's best interest through the course of their dependency case which can sometimes last up to two years.   

CASA/GAL volunteers are appointed to a case by the judge. The volunteer's role is to get to know the child and to provide a carefully researched background to help the court make a sound decision about the child's future. Each home placement case is as unique as the child involved. The CASA volunteer researches the child's best interests to stay with his or her parents or guardians, be placed in foster care, or permanent adoption. The CASA/GAL volunteer makes a recommendation on placement and follows through on the case until it is permanently resolved. CASA/GAL volunteers are often the only stable factor in an often frightening and difficult ordeal for a child.

Our best interest advocacy is driven by the guiding principle that children grow and develop best with their family of origin, if that can be safely achieved. Most of the children we work with are in foster care, but some are with their family of origin. And, most children who leave foster care do so to return to their family.  Furthermore, we recognize the highest quality advocacy includes a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging and as a result, most of our focus training is centered around racial equity. 

The Washington CASA Association is proud to be among the 950 state and local CASA/GAL programs across the nation. Over the past 40 years, this extensive network and the CASA model -- founded in Seattle Washington -- has created a body of research-based best practice advocacy support, along with standards that increase accountability on behalf of the child and families involved.  

Recognition

Support of Washington CASA is recognition of one's commitment to ensuring that all children are able to experience safety, a permanent place to call home and the opportunity to thrive.  Support of Washington CASA is also recognition of one's desire to leverage their gift to the greatest extent.   Here are some examples of the leveraging power of your gift:

• A $172 contribution ($14/month) will support the recruitment of one CASA/GAL volunteer.
• Each CASA volunteer will serve, on average, 7 children during their tenure.
• Each hour of a volunteer advocate's time is valued at $27.
• On average a CASA/GAL volunteer will contribute 10-12 hours per month

Impact

With your contribution toward the recruitment of one CASA/GAL volunteer, you will set in motion the following potential impacts:

• The support and placement of 7 of our State’s most acutely vulnerable children
• An investment that will return $300 monthly in high quality children’s advocacy and $3,600 per year that taxpayers will not have to fund.