Piedmont Court Apointed Special Advocates Inc

Programs: Piedmont casa trains and supports community volunteers who advocate for abused and neglected children and youth whose cases are before the courts of charlottesville, albemarle county, louisa county, and greene county. Volunteers attend a 32-hour training program and become skilled advocates for children who have been mistreated by those who are supposed to care for them the most. The volunteers work closely with community physicians, judges, therapists, lawyers, guidance counselors, social workers, teachers and others to conduct a thorough and independent investigation of the child's circumstances. Casa volunteers meet with children and youth at least monthly (usually more often), and participate in service planning meetings, special education planning meetings, family (continued on schedule o) treatment court case staffings, and other child-specific treatment team meetings. The volunteers use the information gathered in these investigations to make recommendations to the court for the child's best interests and assure the child is receiving all appropriate and necessary services. In fy 2018, 30 new casa volunteers were trained; 125 program volunteers served 293 children.

bridges to success for older piedmont casa youth in foster care is a grant funded program that allowed piedmont casa to hire three (3) coach/mentors who are primarily responsible for providing individual, professional support to casa youth ages 14 to 18+ through relationship building, problem solving, capacity building and persistence. These positions work directly with older casa youth to help them develop comprehensive, holistic and measureable plans that guide and support their transition to self- sufficiency and living an independent, interdependent life. Working closely with casa supervisors and volunteers the coach/mentors help ensure that piedmont casa youth receive appropriate support and advocacy services.