Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs)
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) are trained volunteers appointed by the juvenile court to provide one-on-one advocacy for a child in foster care. These volunteers spend time with children, ensure that court-ordered services are provided, attend court hearings for their CASA children, and provide recommendations to the court based on the best interests of the children they serve. There are 40 local CASA programs providing services in 41 of California's 58 counties, as well as one Tribal CASA program.
Most children in the California foster care system do not have a CASA (sometimes called a child advocate) to help them when they are in foster care. When a child has a CASA volunteer appointed to help her, the CASA is usually very helpful in making sure that the child’s needs are being met. CASAs have access to confidential agency and court records about the child and the child’s family and make a written report to the court for each court hearing about what is happening with the child.
Most CASAs work closely with the foster or kinship parents of their CASA child. In some cases, a foster or kinship parent contacts the CASA program in their local community to ask if a CASA volunteer can be appointed for the child in their home. There are several things foster and kinship parents can do to help the child get the greatest benefit from having a CASA assigned to her.[1]
Prepare the child for the CASA’s first visit. Explain that the judge has asked this person to come talk to her since the judge can’t personally visit all the children she has to make decisions about. Encourage the child to be open to developing a relationship with the CASA.
Share information with the CASA in the beginning and as the case goes on. Treat the CASA as a teammate in making sure the child’s needs are met. If you have something sensitive to say to the CASA, make sure the child doesn’t hear it. Confidentiality rules sometimes prevent a CASA from sharing information with a foster or kinship parent. If you need information about the child, contact the social worker rather than trying to get the CASA to tell you the information.
Tell the CASA what works for you in terms of when and where visits with the child should take place. Have the child ready when the CASA comes to visit. If the visit is going to take place in your home, have a space where the CASA and the child can visit privately, if possible.
Foster and kinship parents should pass on important information about the child to the child’s CASA. There may also be times when the CASA can help you get the services you need to continue caring for the child. If you are having difficulty alerting the agency or others in the system to your concerns, CASAs can often be helpful in making that happen.
CASAs and caregivers sometimes have conflicts just like the other adults who work in the foster care system. If you have a difference of opinion with a CASA volunteer, try to work it out directly with the CASA. If that is not successful, contact the director of the CASA program in your community. CASA directors are usually helpful in clarifying what the CASA’s role is and in dealing with any problems that arise.
Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Offices
CalCASA Association
Robin Allen
660 13th Street, Suite 300
Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 663-8440 or (800) 214-2272
Fax: (510) 663-8441
E-mail: staff@californiacasa.org
Web: www.californiacasa.org
By County
Alameda County
Regena Jones
Alameda County CASA Program
1000 San Leandro Blvd., Suite 300
San Leandro, CA 94577
(510) 618-1950
Fax: (510) 618-1966
E-mail: rjjones@acgov.org
Web: www.casaofalamedacounty.org
Amador County
Lisa Faillers, Program Manager
Amador County CASA Program
Amador-Tuolumne Community Action Agency
935 South Hwy. 49
Jackson, CA 95642
(209) 223-1485
E-mail: lfaillers@atcaa.org
Butte County
Bob Michels
Sheri Morgan, Program Manager
Northern Valley Catholic Social Services
CASA of Butte County
10 Independence Circle
Chico, CA 95973
(530) 895-8151
Fax: (530) 345-1685
E-mail: casa@nvcss.org
Contra Costa County
Keith Archuleta
CASA of Contra Costa
2020 North Broadway, #204
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
(925) 256-7284
Fax: (925) 256-7286
E-mail: KeithArchuleta@cccocasa.org
Web: www.cccocasa.org
Del Norte County
Susie Minx
CASA of Del Norte County
1080 Mason Mall, Suite 9
Crescent City, CA 95531
(707) 464-3320
Fax: (707) 464-5561
E-mail: sminx@casadn.org
Web: www.casadn.org
El Dorado County
Tom Bourne
CASA El Dorado
347Main Street
Placerville, CA 95667
(530) 622-9882
Fax: (530) 621-3608
E-mail: director@casaeldorado.org
Web: http://www.casaeldorado.org/
Fresno and Madera Counties
Karin Chao-Bushoven
CASA of Fresno and Madera Counties
1475 West Shaw Avenue
Fresno, CA 93711
(559) 244-6485
Fax: (559) 243-0791
E-mail: karinchao@casafresno.org
Web: http://www.casafresno.org/
Humboldt County
Steve Volow
CASA of Humboldt County
2356 Myrtle Avenue
Eureka, CA 95501
(707) 441-0131
Fax:(707) 443-3243
E-mail: steve@humboldtcasa.org
Web: http://www.humboldtcasa.org/
Imperial County
Nancie Lee Rhodes
CASA of Imperial County
690 Broadway St. Ste. 6
El Centro, CA 92243
(760) 353-7456
Fax: (760) 353-4465
E-mail: nanlee7@sbcglobal.net
Kern County
Colleen McGauley
CASA of Kern County
2000 24th Street, Suite 130
Bakersfield, CA 93301
(661) 631-2272
Fax: (661) 328-9787
E-mail: cmcgauley@kerncasa.org
Web: http://www.kerncasa.org/
Lassen County
Darla Freeman, Interim Director
Lassen Family Services
Post Office Box 701
Susanville, CA 96130
(530) 257-4599
(888) 289-5004
Fax: (530) 257-5490
E-Mail: lfsone@frontiernet.net
Web: http://www.lassencrisis.com/casa.html
Los Angeles County
Bryan Borys
CASA of Los Angeles
201 Centre Plaza Dr., Suite 3
Monterey Park, CA 91754
(323) 526-6666
Fax: (323) 264-5020
E-mail: bborys@lasuperiorcourt.org
Marin County
Charles Mead
Marin CASA Program
30 N. San Pedro Road, Suite 275
San Rafael, CA 94903
(415) 507-9016
Fax: (415) 507-9265
E-mail: cmead@marinadvocates.org
Web: http://www.marinadvocates.org/
Mariposa County
Stephanie Holland
Executive Director
CASA of Mariposa County
P.O. Box 2009
Mariposa, CA 95338
(209) 742-4206
Fax: (209) 966-2079
E-mail: stephanie@casaofmariposa.org
Web: http://www.casaofmariposa.org
Mendocino County
Sheryn Hildebrand
Post Office Box 1434
Ukiah, CA 95482
(707) 463-6503
Fax: (707) 463-4624
E-mail: casamc@pacific.net
Modoc County
Carol Callaghan(T.E.A.C.H.)
Debbie Mason, Program Coordinator
Modoc County CASA
112 E. 2nd. Street
Alturas, CA 96101
(530) 233-3111
Fax: (530) 233-4744
E-mail: dmason@teachinc.org
Monterey County
Siobhan Greene
Monterey County CASA
201 Monterey/Salinas Hwy., Suite F
Salinas, CA 93908
(831) 455-6800
Fax: (831) 455-6802
E-mail: Siobhan@casamonterey.org
Web: http://www.casamonterey.org/
Napa County
Lola Chester, Executive Director
CASA, A Voice for Children
743 First Street
Napa, CA 94559
(707) 257-2272
Fax: (707) 257-2278
E-mail: LChester@napacasa.org
Nevada County
Bonnie Taylor
Child Advocates of Nevada County
531 Uren Street
Nevada City, CA 95959
(530) 265-4410
Fax: (530) 265-9391
E-mail: bonniet@caofnc.org
http://www.caofnc.org/
Orange County
Greg Bradbard
CASA of Orange County
1615 E. 17th Street, Suite 100
Santa Ana, CA 92705
(714) 619-5155
Fax: (714) 935-6284
E-mail: gbradbard@casaoc.org
Placer County
Sally White
Child Advocates of Placer County
P.O. Box 701
Auburn, CA 95604
(530) 885-4361
Fax: (530) 305-5437
E-mail: sallywhite@sbcglobal.net
Plumas County
Carolyn Widman
Mark Pelter, Program Coordinator
Plumas County CASA
Plumas Crisis Intervention and Resource Center
P.O. Box 1890
Quincy, CA 95971-1890
(530) 283-9812
Fax: (530) 283-3539
E-mail: plumascasa@pcirc.com
Web: www.pcirc.com/casa.html
Riverside County
Marilynn Yeates
CASA for Riverside County
P.O. Box 3008
Indio, CA 92202
(760) 863-7424
Fax: (760) 863-7431
E-mail: myeates@casariversidecounty.org
Sacramento County
Carol Noreen, Acting Executive Director
CASA of Sacramento
P.O. Box 278353
Sacramento, CA 95827
(916) 875-7158
Fax: (916) 875-6879
E-mail: carol@sacramentocasa.org
Web: http://www.sacramentocasa.org/
San Bernardino County
Jenna Colburn
San Bernardino Child Advocacy Program
1635 North D Street
San Bernardino, CA 92413
(909) 881-6760
Fax: (909) 881-6764
E-mail: casasbc@keyway.net
Web: http://www.childadvocatessbc.org/
San Diego County
Sharon Lawrence
Voices for Children
2851 Meadow Lark Drive
San Diego, CA 92123
(858) 569-2019
Fax: (858) 569-7151
E-mail: sharonl@voices4children.com
Web: http://www.voices4children.com/
San Francisco County
Caroline Fisher
San Francisco CASA Program
100 Bush Street, Suite 650
San Francisco, CA 94104
(415) 398-8001
Fax: (415) 398-8068
E-mail: cfishered@aol.com
Web: http://www.sfcasa.com/
San Joaquin County
Justian Risso, Program Coordinator
San Joaquin CASA Program
Child Abuse Prevention Council
P.O. Box 1257
Stockton, CA 95201-1257
(209) 464-4524
Fax: (209) 464-2272
E-mail: jrisso@sjcasa.org
San Luis Obispo County
Teresa Tardiff
1160 Marsh Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805) 541-6542
Fax: (805) 541-5637
E-mail: ttardiff@slocasa.org
Web: http://www.slocasa.org/
San Mateo County
Pat Miljanich
777 Mariners Island Blvd., Suite 115
San Mateo, CA 94404
E-mail: pmiljanich@aol.com
Santa Barbara
Maria Long
Santa Barbara CASA Program
402 East Gutierrez St.
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
(805) 879-1735
Fax: (805) 564-7188
E-mail: maria@sbcasa.org
Santa Clara County
Gisela Bushey
Child Advocates of Santa Clara County
509 Valley Way, Bldg. 2
Milpitas, CA 95035
(408) 416-0400
Fax: (408) 416-0406
E-mail: info@cadvocates.org
Santa Cruz County
Nancy Sherrod
CASA of Santa Cruz County
294 Green Valley Road, Suite 326
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831) 761-2956
Fax: (831) 761-2913
E-mail: nancys@casaofsantacruz.org
Web: http://www.casaofsantacruz.org/
Siskiyou County
Karen Bowers
CASA of Siskiyou County
P.O. Box 1337
Yreka, CA 96097
530-841-0844
E-mail: casasisq@snowcrest.net
Solano County
Maria Moses
Solano County CASA
2300 Boynton Avenue, Suite 103
Fairfield, CA 94533
(707) 434-0346
Fax: (707) 434-0244
E-mail: mmoses@casasolano.org
Sonoma County
Millie Gilson
Sonoma CASA
Post Office Box 1418
Kenwood, CA 95452
(707) 537-6375
Fax: (707) 544-6379
E-mail: mbr_gilson@sbcglobal.net
Stanislaus County
Kristine Keel
CASA of Stanislaus County
P.O. Box 3488
Modesto, CA 95353
(209) 567-4230
Fax: (209) 567-4231
E-mail: casaofstanco@yahoo.com
Tulare County
Marilyn Barr
CASA of Tulare County
1149 North Chinowth
Visalia, CA 93291-6262
(559) 625-4007
Fax: (559) 625-3165
E-mail: marilyn@casatulareco.org
Web: http://www.casaoftularecounty.arrival.net/
Ventura County
Cathy Ungar
Tricia Nelson, Program Manager
Interface/CASA of Ventura County
1305 Del Norte Road, Suite 110
Camarillo, CA 93010
(805) 644-6114, ext. 105
Fax: (805) 983-0789
E-mail: tnelson@icfs.org
Web: http://www.icfs.org/
Yolo County
Manuel Lopez
Yolo County CASA
327 College Street, Suite 204
Woodland, CA 95695
(530) 661-4200
Fax (530) 662-0790
E-mail:
mlopez@yolocasa.org
Web:
http://www.yolocasa.org/
[1] Ward, Janet. (2003) Adapted from CASA Volunteers – Champions for Foster Children. National Advocate, Winter 2003.
