CasaProgram

There are currently more than three thousand children in Pima County’s dependency system. Children caught up in the system have been abused or neglected and placed in foster care, while the parents work to meet certain standards before they can regain custody. “The unfortunate fact is, because there are so many children in the dependency system, their needs fall through the cracks,” says Alison Boelts, recruiting and marketing coordinator for the Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA). This is not an ideal situation by any means.

That’s where a CASA volunteer comes into play. A CASA is a community volunteer appointed by a Juvenile Court Judge to represent the best interests of children involved in proceedings for the dependency system. Volunteers undergo an extensive screening process and complete at least 30 hours of training before they are appointed to monitor a child. Once appointed, the special advocate is able to develop a close relationship with their assigned child, giving them the one-on-one attention they need. “The key to being a CASA is to understand the children and gain objective information in order to help the Judge make a ruling in their best  interest,” says Boelts. Volunteers are involved in every aspect of the lives of their appointed children and are awarded rights to check grades, speak with teachers and advisors, and even recommend specific court actions which best serve the child’s well-being. The CASA role is so influential that children appointed a special advocate have their situations resolved more quickly, all while getting the benefit of a caring, consistent person in their lives. Unfortunately, just 12 percent of children in the dependency system have a special advocate assigned to their case.

The Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children is a national program and has been active in Tucson for 27 years. Pima County currently has approximately 200 volunteers, 40 percent of whom come from the Oro Valley/Foothills zip codes. The CASA program continues to recruit volunteers who will speak up on behalf of children lost in the courts of the dependency system. Because everyone, especially children, deserve the chance to have a healthy and happy life.

For more information about the Pima County CASA Program or to become a volunteer, contact Pima County Juvenile Court Center CASA Program at 520.740.2060 or visit PimaCountyCASA.org.