Every child should have a safe, loving and permanent home, but many do not. Each year in Missouri, thousands of children become entangled in the juvenile justice and foster care programs because they are victims of abuse or neglect. Missouri Court Appointed Special Advocate Programs provide an innovative cost-effective approach to a very urgent crisis. Community-based programs recruit, screen, train, and supervise volunteers to provide individualized advocacy for these innocent victims and an independent source of information for the judge who must decide their future.
CASA volunteers serve as the eyes and ears of the court.
They involve anyone who may be able to shed light on the child's needs. The CASA then goes to court and makes recommendations to the judge, based on their independent assessment, about what is in the child's best interests. The CASA remains involved to keep the focus on the child until the case is permanently resolved.