MARIPOSA — CASA of Mariposa County is looking for volunteers for their child advocacy program. CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates.
Child Advocates are assigned a child involved in the foster care system. By getting to know the child, an advocate can speak for him or her when the child might be too frightened or intimidated to tell a judge what he or she wants.
CASA will provide committed would-be advocates with 30 hours of training and support the advocate while at that child’s side, making the legal system a little easier for our youngest and most vulnerable community members.
“It’s easier to raise a strong child than repair a broken adult,” say organizers. “Every child deserves a safe, loving and permanent home.”
Call CASA of Mariposa County today at (209) 742-4206.
CASA of Mariposa is a local branch of a national, nonprofit organization that focuses on volunteer advocacy for abused and neglected children. Nationally, CASA is made up of a network of more than 75,000 CASA and guardian ad litem (GAL) volunteers who serve 240,000 abused and neglected children in 930 independent programs nationwide.
CASA of Mariposa County is one of these community-based programs. Founded as an independent 501(c)3 in 2004, CASA has been serving abused and neglected children in Mariposa County for over ten years. Since 2014, CASA of Mariposa County has operated under the administrative umbrella of the Alliance for Community Transformations, a 501(c)3 non-profit.
To date, CASA of Mariposa County hs trained nearly 50 volunteer advocates. In the past three years alone, fifteen volunteers have been trained and 64 children/youth have been provided with a Court Appointed Special Advocate to:
- Advocate for safe, permanent, and nurturing homes
- Address their educational, healthcare, and other urgent needs.
- Help them to develop permanent connections in their community.
All volunteers are screened, trained, and supported by professional staff at CASA of Mariposa County.
In each case, Advocates are appointed by the Mariposa Superior Court. CASA of Mariposa County operates under the authority of, and according to guidelines established by, the Judicial Council of California and local rules of court.
In 2015, CASA of Mariposa County began to provide advocates to children in the juvenile delinquency system in addition to the foster care system. Because every child/youth deserves someone who whole heartedly cares about their success and helps them reach for a better life.
More about the Alliance for Community Transformations: The Alliance provides responsive and preventative services to individuals and families, and works through partnerships and collective action to create truly safe, healthy and socially just communities where every member thrives.
The Alliance for Community Transformations is based in Mariposa and Merced Counties with six programs that help us achieve our mission: Mountain Crisis Services, Valley Crisis Center, Ethos Youth Center, Mariposa Heritage House, CORE (Center for opportunity, re-entry, and education), and CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocates) of Mariposa
