CASA LOGO Volunteer Now
 
   

"CASA is a child's voice in dependency court, providing advocacy, stability, and hope to children who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned."


Court Appointed Special Advocates
of Santa Cruz County

As many as 600 local children each year live in the Santa Cruz County dependency system because of parental abuse or neglect. Each day they face uncertainty and trauma, their lives a sea of ever-changing professionals who –although well-meaning- are nonetheless strangers; police, social workers, foster parents, therapists, judges, lawyers and many others.

This is where CASA steps in.  For more than 200 of these children each year, one person is consistently there; a caring person whose focus is solely on them, a person whose reassuring presence does not change; the child's volunteer CASA Advocate.  Read more.

Support CASA with a Donation.
   


It’s never too early to save the date For Imagine! 2013 – Plan now to join us September 29th for a fun-filled afternoon of delicious food, wine, and wonderful auction items at Chaminade, all to support CASA.

Click here. More details to come!
Find out what others have to say about CASA, or write your own review.
Just by joining our Facebook community you can help connect our children with resources. Stay connected with the cause we love; CASA and our children in foster care.

"Like" us on Facebook.
Annual Report Read CASA’s current
Annual Report.
(Download pdf)

To request a copy by mail, contact Linda at 761-2956 ext 106 or linda@casaofsantacruz.org

Can we talk?
kids

Invite CASA to make a presentation to your group or workplace! CASA speakers share insight into our local system of foster care, the children whose lives are affected, and how CASA and our great volunteers are making a difference. We'd love to come visit you!
Click here to submit your speaker request. 		space

Become a CASA Advocate

Next volunteer training:
  • May 28th – June 27th
    Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 6-9:00 p.m.
  • August 12th - Sept. 18th (skipping 9/2, 9/16)
    Monday and Wednesday evenings, 6-9:00 p.m.
  • October 24th – Nov. 28th (skipping 11/21)
    Tuesday and Thursday evenings, 6-9:00 p.m.
 Note: CASA offers four trainings per year; Feb/March, May/June, August/Sept, Oct/Nov. Trainings span 5 weeks and take place two nights a week from 6-9:00 p.m. Click here learn the steps to becoming an Advocate.

Volunteers

Congratulations to CASA’s
newest class of graduating Advocates!

Learn more at an information session
Orientation Schedules:
  • North County: First Tuesday of the month. Locations change monthly.
  • South County: Third Wednesday of the month.
    CASA House – 813 Freedom Blvd. Watsonville
E-mail: Danielle@casaofsantacruz.org
for location and to RSVP.
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Read true stories of our Advocates and children.

stories
 space May is National Foster Care Month...
You Can Change a Life!

Each May, National Foster Care Month provides an opportunity to shine a light on the experiences of the more than 380,000 children and youth under 18 in the foster care system. The campaign raises awareness about the urgent needs of these young people and encourages citizens from every walk of life to get involved – as foster or adoptive parents, volunteers, mentors, employers or in other ways. With the help of dedicated people, many children and teens in the foster care system will either reunite safely with their parents, be cared for by relatives or be adopted by loving families.
Charlie

Thanks to the many advocates, child welfare professionals, elected officials and support groups around the country, the total number of children in foster care has decreased over recent years.

But more help is needed.

If you would like to help lift up a child’s voice by becoming a CASA Advocate, join us for an orientation to learn more about the rewarding, role of a volunteer child Advocate for CASA. It takes no special education or skill; just the desire to help a child.

Click ‘Ways to Get Involved’ to learn about the many ways to be involved with CASA, now in our 21st year serving children in Santa Cruz County.
Team CASA

Running the Wharf to Wharf this year?
Do it as a proud member of Team CASA!
Make your run count for kids in foster care.
Want more info? Ask danielle@casaofsantacruz.org.



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