History of CASA
Concerned over making decisions about abused and neglected children's lives without sufficient information, a Seattle judge conceived the idea of using trained community volunteers to speak for the best interests of these children in court. This Seattle program was so successful that soon judges across the country began utilizing citizen advocates. In 1990, the U.S. Congress encouraged the expansion of CASA programs nationwide with the passage of the Victims of Child Abuse Act. Today, more than 987 CASA programs are in operation with nearly 60,000 women and men serving as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) or Guardian ad Litem (GAL) volunteer advocates.

CASA Defined
CASA programs and CASA volunteers serve children in foster care throughout most of New Jersey - only Salem and Hunterdon County programs are not yet open due to a lack of funding. 

A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is a trained citizen who is appointed by a judge to represent the best interests of a child in court.  Children helped by CASA volunteers are those who have been removed from their home because of abuse or neglect.

CASA volunteers provide judges statewide with carefully researched background information for eah assigned child to help the court make a sound decision about the child’s future.  Each case is as unique as the child involved, and best interest recommendations are tailored for that child's needs.  The CASA volunteer recommends if it is in the child’s best interest to remain in foster care, be returned to his or her parent/guardian, or be freed for adoption.  The CASA volunteer stays with the case until it is permanently resolved, giving the child at least one stable adult presence throughout their time in foster care.