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History

 

The Court Appointed Special Advocate program in Davidson County was founded in 1983 by a steering committee from the National Council of Jewish Women, Nashville Section (NCJW) and the Junior League of Nashville. It is a replication of the first CASA program started in 1977 by a Seattle, Washington judge, frustrated by the plight of abused and neglected children. The Nashville CASA program was the first in Tennessee and today there are over 1000 CASA programs across the country. 

 

Today, CASA of Nashville and Davidson County accomplishes a lot with a little. A small staff of 11 employees oversees the work of approximately200 active volunteer advocates. During the 2012 calendar year, we helped provide a voice and facilitate permanency for 530 abused, neglected or abandoned children in our community. Our ultimate goal is to have the resources to provide all the children in Davidson County who come before the court as victims of abuse and neglect their own Court Appointed Special Advocate. Our ultimate hope is that no child will need one.

 

 

 

CASA, INC. 

RESULTS

 

When a child is in the court system, a judge must determine where they should go. Should they remain in foster care? Be reunited with parents? Or be adopted? The caseload is overwhelming for the courts and our social services agencies. CASA provides a valuable resource of trained advocates who speak exclusively for the children. It is the CASA volunteer's duty to acquire an in-depth knowledge of each assigned case, focus on the child's best interests and express those needs and point of view to the court. CASA volunteers' recommendations help judges make more informed decisions and give children a voice during an uncertain and often frightening time.

 

 

 

 

 

Mission

 

We provide trained community volunteers to advocate for the best interests of children who come to the attention of juvenile court due to allegations of abuse and neglect.

When a CASA volunteer is appointed to a case, the results are remarkable. The children are:

  • more likely to stay out of the child welfare system

  • more likely to stop continually moving from foster home to foster home

  • more likely to be adopted

  • more likely to be successful in school

  • more like to remain in a stable, caring home

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