What is CASA?
Today there are nearly 500 children in the Prince George’s County foster care system- toddlers who have been removed from their families because of abuse, abandonment or worse; children who have lost their parents and often been separated from their brothers and sisters; young teens who have had to change homes and schools six or seven times in just a few years, because they are shuffled between different temporary living situations. All children deserve to be safe, and treated with respect and dignity. All children have a right to a loving home where they can rebuild friendships and learn and grow. This isn’t just important; it is a fundamental obligation of our society to protect the rights and needs of our children during the most vulnerable time in their lives. Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/Prince George’s County trains and supports citizen volunteers who advocate for children in the foster care system. We fight for their rights and needs until they are in safe, loving, permanent homes. A CASA volunteer is very often the only adult a child has been able to rely upon in their entire life. It’s that simple-a qualified, caring adult can Change a Child’s Story.
Our Mission
Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/ Prince George’s County, Inc. is a volunteer-based organization that partners with the juvenile court to improve the lives of children living in foster care who have suffered from abuse and neglect. With a strong commitment to diversity, CASA/ Prince George’s County trains and supervises volunteers from the community who advocate for the best interest of children, recognizing and respecting each child’s individual needs. By providing a voice to children in the foster care system, it is our goal to help children and promote the timely placement of those we serve in safe, permanent homes.
Our Vision
By sustaining and strengthening the capacity of our program and the competency of our diverse community of volunteers, CASA hopes to continue to expand until all children who have suffered from abuse and neglect and live in foster care in Prince George’s County are matched with CASA volunteers who will help them navigate their experience in foster care until they are placed in safe, nurturing and permanent homes. Learn more about how to help children by becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA).
