CASA 101: What Is CASA?
 

Maybe you've heard of CASA. Maybe you haven't. Either way, we're glad you're here.

 

      You may have seen our name at a community event, noticed one of our social media posts, or heard someone mention volunteering with CASA. But what exactly is CASA, and what does the organization do? CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates. CASA programs train and support community volunteers who advocate for children involved in the court system because of abuse or neglect.

 

      Here in Marion County, West Virginia, CASA volunteers help ensure that children have an independent advocate focused on their individual needs and best interests throughout their court cases. What is a Court Appointed Special Advocate? A CASA volunteer is a trained community member appointed by a judge to advocate for a child involved in an abuse or neglect proceeding. CASA volunteers aren't attorneys, social workers, or foster parents. They have a different responsibility: learning about the child's circumstances, gathering relevant information, and providing recommendations to the court about what they believe is in the child's best interests. Their work includes getting to know the child, communicating with people involved in the child's life, reviewing relevant information, and monitoring the child's circumstances as the case progresses.

 

      The volunteer's perspective helps provide the judge with additional information when making decisions that affect the child's future. Why does CASA exist? Child welfare cases can be complicated. A child may experience changes in living arrangements, schools, caregivers, or services while their case moves through the court system. Numerous professionals may be involved, each with different responsibilities. CASA volunteers provide an additional, independent perspective focused on the child. They pay attention to how decisions and circumstances affect the child's everyday life and advocate for the child's needs to be considered.

 

      What does CASA do in Marion County? CASA of Marion County recruits, screens, trains, and supports local volunteers who advocate for children involved in abuse and neglect proceedings. Our advocates work alongside attorneys, caseworkers, caregivers, educators, and other professionals while maintaining their independent role. They attend court hearings, prepare reports, make recommendations, and follow up on matters affecting the children they serve. The goal is to support informed decisions that promote children's safety, well-being, and permanency.

 

       There's more to CASA than you might realize. That's why we're introducing Get to Know CASA, a new weekly educational series. Over the coming weeks, we'll explain what our volunteers do, who CASA serves, how the court system works, and how ordinary community members become trained advocates. We'll also explore the people, partnerships, and work happening right here in Marion County. Some weeks we'll answer common questions. Other weeks we'll take you behind the scenes or introduce you to the people who make our mission possible.

 

       Whether you're interested in volunteering, supporting CASA, or simply understanding more about the child welfare system, we hope you'll follow along. Because understanding what CASA does is the first step toward understanding why it matters.

 

Coming Next Week: What Does a CASA Volunteer Actually Do? More Than a Voice in Court.

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