Court Appointed Special Advocates Program, Inc.

This organization supports foster children by providing a one-on-one mentor. The education given to the volunteers by the CASA staff to prepare them is thorough, detailed, and very helpful. The ethics and integrity of the program are above reproach. Also, the organization has low overhead so the bulk of their funding goes to the actual mission to serve this at-risk population.
The youth I mentored was a victim of physical and sexual abuse in her home. Once in foster care, she was moved several times and attended various schools. I was able to report to the court in a detailed way about what was happening and what interventions she needed to help her graduate high school and get into therapeutic counseling. I also took her through the process of getting a potentially cancerous tumor evaluated. By being a stable presence in her life, she began to see that she was worthwhile and some adults could be trusted.

Court appointed special advocates is a wonderful organization that matches a volunteer advocate to a foster youth. I can’t think of another nonprofit that provides such an amazingly important and wonderful service for a very vulnerable population in need.

This organization is amazing. Foster children really benefit from having a CASA volunteer work with them. I cannot say enough great things about Contra Costa CASA.

Great program dedicated to helping foster kids navigate and have a voice in the system.

Wonderful agency that dedicates itself completely to uplift and support youth of our community.

I have been a volunteer for 18 years and served in a couple of capacities. I was an advocate for seven children from age 5 to 18 and continue to think about them and wishing well. The Contra Costa County Chapter of CASA has made so many strides over the years from the recruitment & administrative processes to supporting the CASA every step of the way while they are advocating for the child. And, in this county the judges make it known that they are so appreciative of these volunteers and value the information provided by volunteer as they make decisions regarding the welfare of the child. Become a CASA ... you find your time spent well worth it and enjoy being part of a great organization.

As our Juvenile court system continues to fill with youth who are victims of a growing violent world filled with stress, drugs, emotional suffering, and homelessness, children get lost and suffer in overloaded bureaucracy. CASA works hard to advocate for these youths. CASA is there to build trust and a one on one relationship with these traumatized kids. CASA is entrusted by the court to work with all parties involved to advocate where needed for their rights. CASA’s are that one person who commits and stays with the child through their most horrifying experience, the loss of a parent. This program steps in and adds a consistent person with power to make sure the child has someone who cares enough to help them to feel safe and navigate at a time when they have lost their most basic needs of food, shelter, and love. I have been a CASA for two years now and it is my pleasure and obligation to be that one grain of hope for a sad child in need. How could I not? This is an excellent non profit that creates change in a overloaded system full of children who have suffered severe trauma and abuse. It creates positive support for a child in an unimaginable stressful time.

It’s wonderful to know you may have made a difference to a child having a difficult life. Also, the organization is very focused on supporting their volunteers.

I’ve been a Contra Costa County CASA Volunteer for 27 years and served 14 foster youth. In doing so, I’ve been able to provide them encouragement, offer support and help address and meet significant needs in their lives. This is not accomplished in a void, but with a highly dedicated staff as well as pro bono professionals who guide and counsel us to advocate and serve these children effectively. For me, this volunteer opportunity provides a constant learning curve. And the foster youth we come to know so well in weekly visits over time is, in my mind, nothing short of an inspiration. The challenge, the support received by our CASA agency as a volunteer and the inspiring and unique journey with each foster youth has captured my continued involvement and commitment these many years. Sue W.

This is an organization that really cares about the volunteers. The training and support are extraordinary. I learned how to make a real difference in a young man’s life. It turns out that the experience made an even bigger difference in my life.

CASA has an impressive team dedicated to giving their volunteer advocates the most comprehensive training and support I have ever seen at a non-profit. The team is continually striving for excellence in all aspects of their roles and enthusiastically searches for ways to increase the number of advocates volunteering for their program. Of the advocates I have met, they are dedicated and proud to be serving in such a critical role.

CASA of Contra Costa County is doing invaluable work. They provide excellent training and support for their volunteers who work directly with foster children. The foster children, who are in foster care because of abuse or neglect, really benefit from having a CASA volunteer advocating for them.

This program is excellent. The CASA Volunteers go above and beyond for the youth in our community.

I help produce CASA's annual Evening of Promise Gala and am so impressed with their mission and how much they improve the community. Their ardent supporters give so much of their time and funds to this amazing organization. Each year, they appeal to new supporters who are taken aback by how wonderful their work is.

This is an outstanding organization that has a real impact on the foster children and they serve. Every child needs one person who is solely focused on them, and CASA of Contra Costa County really makes this happen. Even more impressive is that the organization is growing so they can serve more foster youth children. Being a CASA volunteer is a huge time commitment, and not everyone has the time, but everyone can help by becoming a donor or just talking to your friends about the work of CASA.

The CASA volunteer role is different from other volunteer experiences because we work with one individual and form a long term relationship with them. This relationship is the basis for our successful advocacy and support of the children we serve. It requires more long term commitment and training than the average volunteer job. With that, comes a greater connection and personal growth. I have learned so much from the children I have worked with.
When dealing with fragile and wounded children, no training can fully prepare you for everything you will encounter, but the support you have from the CASA organization and your fellow CASAs is amazing. Every effort is made to prepare and support CASAs to navigate the foster care/education/court system. The people you meet are dedicated, resourceful and accomplished.
I have worked with 3 children over the last 8 years. There have been moments to celebrate and frustrating disappointments. What I know is that I have made the imperfect foster care system work as best as I can for those children. I have made a lasting human connection with the children I have worked with and that is a unique and fulfilling volunteer experience.

CASA is an extraordinary organization! I have been a CASA now for 3 foster children. The training and subsequent support from the CASA staff is invaluable. I always know that if I have any questions or need advise I will get what I need from the staff. Most importantly, being a CASA has been amazing. It is so fulfilling to know that what you are doing is truly making a difference in the life of a child.

I love being a CASA but, almost as important, I love the support of the organization for the work of its volunteers. This is truly a 5-star group!

I have been. CASA since March of 2017 and it is one of the most rewarding experiences I have had. Advocating on behalf of a youth who needs caring adults in her life is such a privilege, and I have learned a lot about myself as well through this volunteer role.
In addition I am also a project coordinator for this amazing organizing helping to implement a training initiative to help prevent unwanted pregnancies in our foster youth. Based on this role I can say that this is a very professional and caring organization!

I first learned of CASA in 2011 and have been involved since as a donator and board member. It has been a wonderful experience to support this program and watch it grow. We've gone from less than 100 volunteers to 200+ and well on our way to our current goal of 400. The program continues to improve both in the training and support for the volunteers and the opportunities for our foster children. The progress is a tribute to our terrific staff and volunteers.

I love this organization because they have data to back up their claims. Their outcomes are really outstanding for foster youth. They do a great job.

I found this CASA Office online and have to commend the team as they really have a phenomenal support team in place for the Foster youth and for the CASA's that work 1 on 1 with them!

CoCo County CASA is AWESOME!!

CASA volunteers focus on one or two children in the foster care system as opposed to the many other professionals who are working with overwhelming caseloads. A CASA volunteer is a positive, consistent figure in the life of a foster child experiencing instability and uncertainty. They are mentors and role models in addition to being child advocates and officers of the court.

My 10 years as a CASA volunteer provided me with some of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I was able to make a significant impact on the lives of the children I worked with. Witnessing their strength, resilience, and ability to find hope and joy in spite of their circumstances was a privilege. I learned more than I ever expected, got to set my own hours, and had tremendous support from the organization.

I have served on CASA's Board of Directors for the past 3 years. The time I spend supporting CASA of Contra Costa has provided some of the most fulfilling and rewarding experiences of my life. Please consider joining us as we expand our reach, so that one day every abused and neglected foster care child has the support of a CASA advocating for what is in the child's best interest.

I joined the Board of my local CASA over 4 years ago. It sounded like a great organization. As time passed and I really got to understand what CASA does and the impact it has on the lives of foster children I have become even more dedicated to and vested in CASA. I have personally talked to a foster child that had a CASA in his life as a young child. He said that his CASA had a huge positive impact on his life. She was there for him, and guided him and was the only person in his life who was not paid to be there. She helped shape him to be the wonderful young man he is today. I cannot express enough what a wonderful organization CASA is and how important a CASA can be to a foster child.

CASA does amazing things for children who have so little and have lost so much. I am astounded at the level of dedication that volunteers exhibit in their role as advocates for foster children and youth. They go above and beyond the call of duty, oftentimes choosing to continue those relationships with the children well beyond the time that they age out of foster care and no longer officially have a role to play. I believe that CASA is one of the most important organizations affecting the well-being of our nation's under-served children.

I love this organization. I went to an information session in late 2016, and wanted to volunteer, but I did not have the time. Instead I became a donor, and this has been one of the best things I could have done. CASA makes a real difference in the lives of foster children in Contra Costa County.

I have been volunteering as a Court-Appointed Special Advocate for the past 8 years. During that time I have advocated for three teen girls in the foster care system. Each was very different, and I was always able to get advice and support from the staff and other volunteers of CASA of Contra Costa County. While my volunteer work has been challenging at times, it is extremely rewarding as well. I know that I have made a positive difference in three lives.

I have been a volunteer for CASA of Contra Costa County for 6 years. We have never been more committed to helping abused and neglected foster youth. Everyone involved in CASA is committed to serving more and more kids but we need your help! Talk to us about how you can help us with our very worthwhile cause.

I've been involved for about 5 years, first as a volunteer, now as a member of the Board. CASA of Contra Costa County delivers essential support to kids removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect and does it with more than 100 dedicated volunteers

If you want direct impact in a child's / youth's life then CASA of Contra Costa County is for you. As a volunteer I look for strong administrative support so I can focus all my efforts on the foster youth. The program has a strong reputation in the Contra Costa Superior Court system and Child Family Services. Such a reputation allows for a strong impact in a foster youth's life.

CASA is one of the best and most effective organizations helping foster children in Contra Costa County. There is a rigorous screening and training process for the volunteers, and ongoing support to help with any situation.

There's no better cause to donate! I am impressed by the work volunteers and staff from this organization do every day to help abused and neglected children and youth who live in foster care. By helping foster kids, they also help our entire community.

This is a great organization. It provides so much support to their volunteers who work directly with the foster children. Even more impressive is how much good they do with a very small budget. This is one of those organizations that does such good work with such good results that everyone should be donating to them so they can serve more youth.

I volunteered as a CASA fir 3 years. I found the people at the CASA office to be very helpful in dealing with issues of my CASA child. They supported my efforts in every way possible. They helped provide services to foster children I worked with. They do wonderful things for the nediest foster children. After my first child was adopted, I have continued to see him. He is very close to my heart. Thanks for providing me with this opportunity. Donna

I have been a supporter of Contra Costa County CASA for about 10+ years. I can tell you that the children that are served by this organization are the lucky ones in the foster care system. They have experienced the worst of abuse and abandonment and are selected by the judges to have a CASA volunteer assigned to work with them. The volunteer works one on one with the child, sees that they get the services, education, therapy and placement that is needed and also are the child's voice in court when the family is being evaluated for reuniting possibilities. This program really works!!!!!!!!! The individual relationship built between the child and their advocate is strong, healing, and provides a constant source of care in an ever changing foster care enviroment. The Contra Costa program is the oldest in CA and is often cited as the model for other counties. As a leader in this program Contra Costa has set the bar high for recruiting, training, and supporting volunteers. The bottom line is that children survive the system and go on to productive adulthood. Contra Costa CASA raises most of the money needed through grants and private donations. These monies are never assured and the program must be forever conscious of how money is raised and spent. If you are looking for a fiscally responsible organization that does amazingly good work and succeeds year after year in its mission, Contra Costa CASA is a program you should support. I am proud to be a supporter.