CASA of Central Oregon

About CASA

All children have a right to permanency and loving care. But each year, hundreds of thousands of children across the United States are abused, neglected or abandoned by their families. Last year, 110 CASA volunteers advocated for 361 children in our tri-county area of Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson Counties. Imagine what it would be like to lose your parents, not because of something you did, but because they can’t – or won’t – take care of you. Now, into these children’s lives come dozens of strangers; police, foster parents, therapists, social workers, judges, lawyers, and more. Hopefully, one of these strangers is a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer.

The Central Oregon Program recruits, trains and supervises volunteers from the community to advocate for the best interest of children who have been abused or neglected and are court involved. CASA volunteers come from all walks of life. They have a variety of professional, educational and ethnic backgrounds. They are selected based on the quality of their objectivity, competence and commitment.

The Central Oregon CASA Program is designed to aid the court in giving these children a permanent home. CASA is a state and federally mandated program. Volunteers are appointed by judges to watch over and advocate for abused and neglected children, to make sure they don’t get lost in the overburdened legal and social service system. They stay with each case until it is closed and the child is placed in a safe, permanent home. For many abused children, their CASA volunteer will be the one constant adult presence – the one adult who cares only for them.

Our Program

CASA of Central Oregon was established in 2005 with a merger of the Deschutes County and the Crooked River CASA Programs which had existed in Central Oregon since 1992. We service the counties of Deschutes, Jefferson and Crook with offices located in Bend, Madras, and Prineville respectively. CASA of Central Oregon is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Our goal is to provide a volunteer advocate for every abused and neglected child in Central Oregon.

Each month there are roughly 80 children in Central Oregon waiting for a CASA volunteer. In recent years, between 25 and 35 new volunteers were trained and sworn-in each year by Judge Tiktin in Deschutes County and Judge Neilson in Crook and Jefferson Counties, but we still do not have enough volunteers or staff to provide a voice for every child. Please explore this website and contact our office to find out how you can make a difference for our most vulnerable citizens.

What is CASA ?

CASA refers to Court Appointed Special Advocate, a trained community volunteer appointed by a judge to represent the best interests of abused and neglected children in court.

The CASA concept is based on the belief that a child has the right to a safe and permanent home. Research has shown that a child with a CASA volunteer spends less time in foster care, receives more services ordered by the court, experiences fewer placement changes, shows fewer at-risk behaviors, and is more successful in school.

Who is CASA?

CASA volunteers are ordinary citizens from all walks of life. They are dedicated to advocating for the needs of children who have been removed from their parents' care due to neglect or physical, emotional or sexual abuse. No special experience or background is required and volunteers are selected on the basis of their objectivity, competence, and commitment. Volunteers receive 34 hours of training ranging from courtroom procedure to the Juvenile Justice system to the special needs of abused and neglected children. As advocates, CASA volunteers commit an average of 10-15 hours per month to their cases. It is difficult but gratifying work.

Volunteers advocate for children ranging in age from a premature baby born with methamphetamine in his system due to his mother’s addiction, to a teenage girl who has been sexually abused by an adult family member. A child removed from their parents' care and placed in foster care is likely experiencing the most confusing and bewildering time of their life. The volunteer may be the only constant during this traumatic time and the volunteer ensures that the child's physical and psychological needs are met. The volunteer becomes familiar with everyone involved in the child's life and develops an understanding of the child's needs and best interests. The volunteer attends all court hearings for the child and written reports are submitted to the court addressing the child's current situation, assessment and/or concerns the volunteer may have, and recommendations to the court regarding the child's best interests. The CASA volunteer is an integral piece of the equation in determing the child's long term placement.

Four Primary Responsibilities of a CASA

A CASA volunteer has four primary responsibilities...

Investigate all relevant information about the assigned case;
Advocate for the child, ensuring that all relevant facts are brought before the court;
Facilitate and negotiate to ensure that the court, social service personnel and legal counsel fulfill their obligations to the child in a timely fashion; and
Monitor court orders to ensure compliance and to bring to the court's attention any change in circumstances.

1130 NW Harriman St, Ste. 122 ‹› Bend, OR 97701 ‹› 541.389.1618 ‹› 541.383.2826 fax

Madras 541.475.9426 ‹› Prineville 541.447.7220