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Our Mission
Why CASA Is Needed
Director's Note
Our Program Goal
Quick Program Overview
Our Staff
An Historical Look
Bay Area CASA Programs
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In California 67,000 children are living in foster homes and small group homes.
In Sonoma County there are over 600 children currently dependents of the juvenile court.
The courts removed these children from their parents' care as a result of abuse, neglect
or the inability of the parents to care for them. Abused children are at tremendous risk
for lasting emotional trauma; trauma that is exacerbated when they are thrust into a
complex and confusing court process. To address the special needs of these children
the Court Appointed Special Advocates Program (CASA) of Sonoma County was formed.
The CASA Program, initiated in 1996 by Superior Court Judge Arnold Rosenfield,
was started with grants from the California Judicial Council, the Sonoma
community Foundation, the Junior League of Napa and Sonoma counties, the
World Products Foundation, and the Witkin's Family Trust. Since its inception,
CASA has been the "child's voice in court" for 400 abused and neglected
children. The CASA Program is committed to serving abused/neglected children
of Sonoma County who come before the Juvenile Court for protection. The
purpose of CASA is to humanize the complicated, unfamiliar, and frightening
legal and child welfare systems for the child victim by providing a trained
volunteer who will act as a consistent mentor, role model, support person,
and advocate. CASA currently has fifty-five direct service volunteers who
provide over $66,000 worth of donated time and expenses on their cases annually.
When the Juvenile court Judge assumes jurisdiction and finds a child to be a dependent child of the
court, many different professionals enter the case. These professionals include social workers,
attorneys from County Counsel, the Public Defender's office, and attorneys for the minors, foster
parents, law enforcement officials, and therapists. Everyone involved has a vested interest to
represent and while their intent is to serve the child, none of these professionals have 10-12
hours per month to focus on the child's esteem, well being, personal desires/needs and interest.
The Juvenile Court's objective in assigning each CASA volunteer is to provide a single consistent
person who will take the time to mentor and advocate for the child, keeping the interests and welfare
of the child a priority. Serving as a complement to the deposition of the case, CASAs provide the
companionship and support the child needs during this time of turbulence and confusion in his/her
life.
The CASA program provides representation without charge to children
between the ages of birth and eighteen, who are dependents of the court.
CASA is one of 44 similar programs across the state and more than 900 across the
United States. We are a member of the National and State CASA Associations.
National and State CASA Programs
National CASA
California CASA
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