Your donation can make an incredible difference in a child’s life
The Utah's Friends of CASA 501(c)3 was established to;
(a) To seek and secure public and private donations and other resources to help support and sustain Utah’s CASA program.
(b) To allocate resources to Utah’s CASA program for purposes of recruitment, training and professional development, volunteer support, and recognition of volunteer CASAs.
We are grateful for the long-standing partnership between Utah's Friends of CASA and the Utah CASA Program to serve and meet the needs of Court Appointed Special Advocates since 2009.
The mission of Utah's Friends of CASA is to support Utah CASA and provide resources for recruitment, training, professional development, and recognition of our dedicated CASA volunteers.
In working to achieve our mission, these are our core values:
We value volunteer-centered advocacy
We value teamwork, responsible leadership and impeccable ethics
We value protecting the rights of the children of Utah
The purposes of the partnership between Utah's Friends of CASA and Utah CASA are to:
- Ensure that the CASA program is able to obtain optimal funding from public and private sources and appropriate services to support the mission of the program.
- To the extent possible, ensure that the CASA program has sufficient volunteers available to be appointed for every child when the need arises and support these volunteers’ activities.
- Create initiatives and projects intended to improve the well-being of children in foster care and to nurture their hopes and dreams;
- Promote community awareness of the CASA program and Utah's Friends of CASA.
Utah's Friends of CASA are committed to supporting programs in advocacy for children and families of all cultures, abilities, identities and backgrounds.
"This is why I choose to give my personal time and resources to support Utah CASA. Helping to make a difference in the lives of children and the lives of the adults who care about them is a gift to many, including me. This work takes many hands and hearts working together. Please join me in supporting the CASA volunteers and our state organization. What better way to make a difference in the lives of children who experience abuse and neglect?"
History of National CASA -
It all started with a judge
In 1977, a Seattle Superior Court Judge named David Soukup was concerned about trying to make decisions on behalf of abused and neglected children without enough information. He conceived the idea of appointing community volunteers to speak up for the best interests of these children in court. He made a request for volunteers; 50 citizens responded, and that was the start of the CASA movement.
The success of the program spread quickly and soon other judges were starting similar programs in their courtrooms. It garnered national attention, and in 1982 led to the formation of the National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association (CASA), whose goal was to extend the reach of the CASA program into every state in the nation.
Today, there are more than 93,000 advocates serving in nearly 950 state and local program offices nationwide. CASA programs across the country are known by several different names, including Guardian ad Litem, Child Advocates and Voices for Children.
Since the inception of CASA advocacy, volunteers have helped well over 1,000,000 children find safe, permanent homes in which they can thrive.
Every year in Utah, there are over 10,000 court cases that involve child abuse and neglect. Because of the Utah CASA Program, trained volunteers advocate through the family court system to ensure all victims of child abuse and neglect are safe and thrive in a permanent home.
Children in foster care have experienced abuse and neglect. Once they enter the child welfare system, their world suddenly includes court hearings, social workers, attorneys, and often new homes and schools. Amidst it all, a CASA is the one consistent, caring presence for a child.
From helping a child get glasses to ensuring their records transfer to new schools, a CASA is an expert problem-solver who makes things happen. CASAs work alongside social workers, caregivers, attorneys, and other professionals to make sure nothing falls through the cracks. They are an extra set of eyes and ears for a vulnerable child.
These fabulous advocates (CASAs) donated 27,275 hours in their efforts to serve and represent children involved in the child welfare system last year.
Do you have a donation of goods or services? Need a service project?
We'd love to talk to you!
