Allen County Casa

More than volunteers from local CASA programs in Indiana advocated for 23,290 abused and neglected children in 2021. But there is a tremendous need for additional volunteers. Right here in our community, there are more than 1,100 children recognized by the court as victims of abuse or neglect. In 2021,199 Allen County CASA volunteers served 571 children, with many remarkable success stories. But many abused and neglected children in Allen County are served by staff advocates or attorney GALs and could greatly benefit from a volunteer advocate. Allen County CASA recruits, trains and supports CASA volunteers as advocates to get to know the abused or neglected child and determine their needs and recommend what is in the child’s best interest. The CASA volunteer communicates this information about the child to the court so the child’s voice can be heard and so the child does not become “lost” in the system. The CASA volunteer helps the child to understand what is going on in the case and provides a friendly face, support, stability, and consistency for the child during legal proceedings amidst a sea of unfamiliar people - including police, doctors, child welfare workers, and lawyers. By presenting the best interests of abused and neglected children to the court, advocates help judges to make better informed and more timely decisions about children so they can be returned home or placed in a safe and permanent home as quickly as possible. In addition to speaking for the child in court, CASA volunteers assist children in other ways to recover from the situations that placed them in foster care - providing encouragement and support to enable them to lead healthy, productive lives. Advocates serve as role models to children who often have no one else to turn to. For example, many advocates assist with educational needs, encourage career interests, and develop meaningful relationships with their assigned children that have a lifelong impact on both the children and