CASA: Advocates for Children of New York State provides support to New York State CASA programs that utilize trained community volunteers to advocate on behalf of children in the court system.  The Association works to promote, assist, and support the development, growth, and continuation of CASA programs in the state of New York that agree to follow the standards set by the National CASA Association, the Office of Court Administration, and this Association.

About Our Mission

When children are abused or severely neglected, they must rely on adults to help them obtain justice and services. That is the intent of the social service and Family Court systems, but all too often these systems are fraught with escalating caseloads and reduced resources. Children currently average more than three years in the limbo of foster care, with their futures unresolved and uncertain. Family Court judges, with as little as ten minutes to determine a child's fate, are facing increasingly complex cases, limited support services, and disjointed, insufficient or outdated information on which to make sound decisions.

CASA: Advocates for Children of NYS (CASANYS) promotes and supports local community advocacy programs whose trained volunteers assist Family Courts in making crucial decisions affecting children in 36 counties across New York State. We offer training, technical assistance, information, and support to member programs. We also work with other statewide court, social service, and children's advocacy programs on policy related issues.

The heart of our program is the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), a specially trained and supervised community volunteer, appointed by a Family Court judge. CASAs help to secure safe and permanent homes for abused and neglected children by investigating and monitoring cases involving children in foster care. CASAs take only one or two cases at a time, allowing ample time to gather thorough information.

After reviewing all the records and documents pertinent to a child's case and completing interviews with all relevant parties, the volunteer then submits a formal report to the court. This report details information and concerns about where the child can find a safe, stable, and nurturing home, as well as what services are required for the child and non-offending family members and caregivers. Most volunteers then monitor the case to make sure that Court orders are being followed and the child continues to be safe. The CASA volunteer is very often the single constant in a child's life throughout case. Volunteers average 109 hours per year, providing a powerful voice in each child's life.