Who We Are
CASA-NYC is part of a nation-wide movement to ensure children and youth are supported as they navigate the child welfare system
The CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) model was founded in 1977 by a Seattle family court judge who determined he could not rely on the state’s child protective agency to provide him with all of the information needed to make decisions about the children in his courtroom. He called for citizen volunteers who could be trained to assess cases objectively, be appointed as advocates for children, and provide comprehensive information to the court to aid decision-making.
CASA-NYC was founded shortly after in 1979 and is now a part of a network of nearly 1,000 independently operated CASA and Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) programs across the United States. Each year, more than 1,100 young people across all five boroughs of New York City are partnered with one of our volunteer advocates, who are supported by our small staff of social workers and attorneys.
HOW we advocate matters
CASA-NYC’s organizational values drive everything we do including the way we train our volunteers, serve children and youth, and partner with other agencies.
Child Safety & Well-Being
The safety of the children we serve is our top priority. Their physical, emotional, and developmental well-being drives every aspect of our work.
Efficacy
We are reliable, resourceful, and relentless problem-solvers and work with a sense of urgency on behalf of the children and youth we serve.
Collaboration
We work to engage and partner with all people and organizations who play an important role in the life of the child or youth we serve. We identify and leverage every available support and facilitate effective communication among relevant parties.
Equity & Anti-Racism
Because structural racism is a primary force underlying family instability and child welfare system involvement, we strive to be an actively anti-racist organization and continuously advocate for equity for the children and families we serve.
Justice
We advocate to ensure that children and youth involved in the child welfare system, and their parents, are treated fairly and equitably at every stage of the process, have their rights protected, and receive the services and support to which they are entitled.
Family Stability
Families who have experienced trauma and the tragedy of separation can heal when treated with dignity and respect. They can overcome obstacles to safety and stability when provided with the resources and support they need. We facilitate reunification between children and their parents whenever safely possible; when not possible, we facilitate permanency with other relatives or adoptive families.
Our volunteers embody our values
After getting connected with a child, many of our volunteer advocates become a permanent support system. Some advocates stay in a child's life for over 10 years, providing highly valued consistency over the long term.
