THE COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES (CASAS) WORK TO PREVENT ABUSED, NEGLECTED, AND ABANDONED CHILDREN FROM BECOMING LOST IN THE JUVENILE DEPENDENCY SYSTEM, AND FINDS THEM SAFE, PERMANENT, NUTURING HOMES AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE BY CAREFULLY PAIRING A CASA VOLUNTEER WITH EACH CHILD TO ENSURE THAT THE CHILD'S BEST INTEREST IS SERVED. THE ADVOCATE SPENDS TIME WITH THE CHILD, GATHERS RELEVANT INFORMATION, ASSESSES THE CHILD'S NEEDS, WIRES REPORTS FOR THE JUVENILE COURT JUDGE, AND ATTENDS ALL COURT HEARINGS REGUARDING THE CHILD UNTIL A SUITABLE, NURTURING, PERMANENT HOME IS OBTAINED. FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2021 578 CHILDREN WERE SERVED by 273 VOLUNTEER ADVOCATES PROVIDING 18,400 HOURS OF SERVICE.
