The mission of CASA is to expedite the process through which abused and neglected children are found permanent, safe homes. A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Volunteer is a trained citizen who is appointed by the judge to represent the best interest of a child in court. Children helped by CASA volunteers include those for whom home placement is being determined in Juvenile Court. Most of the children are victims of abuse or neglect. The  CASA for Kids, Inc. Program is a part of a National CASA network, extending child advocacy services across the country.

A CASA volunteer provides a judge with a carefully researched background of the child 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 must determine if it is in the child's best interest to stay with his or her parent or guardian, be placed in foster care, or be freed for permanent adoption. The CASA volunteer makes a recommendation on placement to the judge, and follows through on the case until it is permanently resolved. 

To prepare a recommendation, the CASA volunteer talks with the child, parents, family members, social workers, school officials, health providers and others who are knowledgeable about the child's history. The CASA volunteer also reviews all records pertaining to the child (i.e. school, medical, and case worker reports, and other documents). 

State governments generally employ social workers. They sometimes work on as many as 60 to 90 cases at a time and are frequently unable to conduct a comprehensive investigation of each. The CASA worker is a volunteer with more time and a smaller case load (usually 1-2 cases at a time). The CASA Volunteer does not replace a social worker on a case, he or she is an independent court appointee, representing the child's best interest. The CASA volunteer can thoroughly examine a child's case, has knowledge of community resources, and can make a recommendation to the court independent of state agency restrictions. 

The CASA volunteer does not provide legal representation in the courtroom. This is the role of the attorney. CASA is not a legal representative, but CASAs always advocate for the child's best interest. Attorneys are paid; CASA Volunteers are not paid. 

CASA volunteers come from all walks of life, with a variety of professionally educational and ethnic backgrounds. Nationally there are 48,000 volunteers. No special or legal background is required. However, volunteers are screened closely for objectivity, competence, and commitment. Locally, 63% of our active CASAs also work in part or full-time employment. Three-fourths of our CASAs are women; one-fourth men. 

CASA volunteers undergo a thorough training course conducted by the staff of CASA for Kids, Inc. This training includes instruction on the court and child welfare systems: child abuse and neglect: relevant state and federal laws: permanency planning: family preservation: and the roles and responsibilities of a CASA Volunteer. The classroom instruction averages 35-45 hours, including observation of instruction Court Hearings. New CASAs mentor with experienced CASAs before soloing. 

CASA Volunteers offer children trust and advocacy during complex legal proceedings. They explain to the child the events that are happening, the reasons they all are in court, and the roles the judge, lawyers and social workers play. CASA volunteers also encourage the child to express his or her own opinion and hopes. Always, the CASA advocates for the best interest of the child. 

The number varies form court to court, but the  CASA for Kids Program assigns one or two cases per volunteer. 

CASA has been endorsed by the American Bar Association, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, and the National Association of Public Child Welfare Administrators. Judge Mark Toohey (Division II), Judge Klyne Lauderback (Division I), and Judge Paul Wolford (City of Bristol) and Judge Jay Taylor of Hawkins County all commend the service CASA provides. 

CASA is a priority project of the Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The office encourages the establishment of new CASA programs, assists established CASA programs, and provides partial funding for the National CASA Association. 

Preliminary findings show that children who have been assigned CASA volunteers tend to spend less time in court and less time within the foster care system than those who do not have CASA representation. Judges have observed that CASA children also have better chances of finding permanent homes than non-CASA children. 

Each case is different. A CASA volunteer usually spends about 15 hours doing research and conducting interviews prior to the first court appearance. More complicated cases take longer. Once initiated into the system, volunteers usually work 10-20 hours a month. 

The volunteer continues until the case is permanently resolved. One of the primary benefits to the CASA program is that, unlike other court principals, who often rotate cases, the CASA volunteer is a consistent figure in the proceedings, and provides continuity for a child. 

The National CASA Association is a non-profit organization that represents and serves the local CASA programs. It provides training, technical assistance, research, news and public awareness service to members, as well as providing competitive grant funding to individual programs. 

The Tennessee CASA Association is a non-profit membership organization which support the development, growth, and continuation of programs which recruit and train volunteers to serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates representing the best interest of children in court proceedings. Currently there are 16 established CASA programs in Tennessee. 

CASA for Kids, Inc. receives its continuing funding from the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth, at 11% of the total budget. The rest of CASA's income is up to the CASA staff and Board of Directors to solicit through foundation grants, contributions from civic clubs, churches and corporations, and donations from private individuals concerned about at-risk children. 

Write to: CASA for Kids Inc. 317 Shelby Street, Suite 206 Kingsport, TN 37660