What is Our Mission?

Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children of Monmouth County, Inc. (CASA) is a non-profit charitable organization with a mission to make a difference in the community by recruiting, training and supporting volunteers to become advocates for children whose families have been cited for abuse and neglect.  CASA for Children of Monmouth County is part of an association of CASA organizations nationwide.   A safe home isn’t something a child should only dream about. CASA volunteers are everyday people who are appointed by judges to advocate for the best interest of abused and neglected children.  A CASA volunteer stays with a child’s case until they are placed in a safe, permanent & nurturing home. How Does it Work?

CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to watch over and advocate for abused and neglected children, to make sure they don’t get lost in the overburdened legal and social service system or languish in inappropriate group or foster homes. Volunteers stay with each case until it is closed and the child is placed in a safe, permanent home. For many abused children, their CASA volunteer will be the one constant adult presence in their lives.

Independent research has demonstrated that children with a CASA volunteer are substantially less likely to spend time in long-term foster care and less likely to reenter care.

Who Are the Children CASA Volunteers Help?

Judges appoint CASA volunteers to represent the best interests of children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. Each year, more than 700,000 children experience foster care in this country. Because there are not enough CASA volunteers to represent all of the children in care, judges typically assign CASA volunteers to their most difficult cases. All children regardless of age, race, ethnicity, national origin (ancestry), color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, or physical challenge should be safe, have a permanent home, and an opportunity to thrive.

The Role of CASA Explained...