Agency Details:

Sacramento CASA

Sacramento Court Appointed Special Advocates Program, Inc. (CASA) recruits and trains community volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the Sacramento County foster care system.

Description:
Currently, there are over 4,800 children in foster care in Sacramento County. Many of these children need the support of an advocate and a friend.

As a CASA, volunteers work one-on-one with a child/youth advocating on their behalf in the juvenile court and assisting them in obtaining all necessary services while they are dependents in the foster care system.

The ultimate goal of a CASA is to help the child find a safe and permanent home, whether it would be a return to their families, adoption or guardianship. A minimum of one year and 10 to 15 hours a month (on average) is required. There is flexibility as to when CASAs spend time with a child as there is no set schedule.

Extensive training and program support are provided to all advocates. Background check, volunteer application, interview and references required. Applicants must be at least 21 years old and have a good driving record and reliable transportation. Male volunteers and bilingual volunteers especially encouraged to apply. No prior legal or social work experience required just the desire and ability to work with these kids and the court system is necessary. This is a great opportunity for active retirees, students and working professionals.

Prior to being accepted into training, SCASA holds mandatory orientation sessions. Those interested need to attend only one of these sessions. These sessions will provide general information about the CASA mission as well as a brief introduction of the topics to be covered during the required 30-35 hours of training.

History:
Sacramento CASA follows a model established in 1976 in Seattle, Washington. David W. Soukup, then presiding judge of King County Superior Court, was seeking alternative ways to ensure that the best interests of children were consistently represented by the court. By passing the court-appointed attorneys who were not in a position to handle comprehensive investigations, he turned to trained community volunteers who were willing to make a long term committment to each child for whom they would advocate. In its first year of service, Judge Soukup's program was a success. Similar programs rapidly spread across the United States ultimately resulting in the National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association (NCASAA).

Contact people:

Lupe Grimaldi, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email) Katie Sherlock, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (916) 875-6879

Address:

301 Bicentennial Circle, Suite 220 Sacramento, CA 95827 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.sacramentocasa.org

Directions:

From Downtown Area and Areas West: Take Hwy. 50 East to the Howe Avenue/Power Inn Road Exit. Go south (right) onto Power Inn Road and move immediately over into the left lane. Go to stop light and turn left onto Folsom Blvd. Go to first stop light and turn left on Bicentennial Circle (look for the AAA building). Follow the blue signs directing you towards the Carol Miller Justice Center as you follow the road around in a circle in a counterclockwise direction (left). After you enter the building and proceed through the metal detector, go up the stairs to the right. We are located on the second floor in suite 220. From Rancho Cordova Area and Areas East: Take Hwy. 50 West to the Howe Avenue/Power Inn Road Exit. Go South (left) back over the freeway towards Power Inn Road and move immediately over into the left lane. Go to stop light and turn left onto Folsom Blvd. Go to first stop light and turn left on Bicentennial Circle(look for the AAA building). Follow the blue signs directing you towards the Carol Miller Justice Center as you follow the road around in a circle in a counterclockwise direction (left). After you enter the building and proceed through the metal detector, go up the stairs to the right. We are located on the second floor.

Last updated on June 11, 2009