Children benefit from CASA volunteers every day, but the needs of CASA of Los Angeles continue to grow. With one of the largest foster care populations in the country, L.A. County is in need of individuals willing to make a difference in the lives of its most needy children. CASA of Los Angeles actively recruits, screens and trains volunteers to advocate on behalf of foster children. With additional funding, Friends of CASA can continue to expand their resources to support even more CASA volunteers making a difference.

All foster care cases in L.A. County take place in either the Alfred J. McCourtney Juvenile Justice Center in Lancaster (serving cases in the Antelope and Santa Clarita Valleys), or the Edmund D. Edelman Children’s Court located ten minutes from downtown Los Angeles.

The majority of cases in L.A. County are heard at the Edmund D. Edelman Children’s Court, which was opened in 1992, after many years of planning and fundraising. Planning in the 1980’s ensured that the building is sensitive to the needs of children and families going through the foster care system, including smaller courtrooms, lower judge podiums, one long table instead of two “sides” of tables, and a complete youth center in which foster children who come to court without caregivers can play, study and relax. The Edelman Children’s Court was the first of its kind, now serves as a model to other Dependency Courts, and has easy freeway access located next to the 710 and 10 freeways.

CASA of Los Angeles’ main office is in the Edmund D. Edelman Children’s Court in Monterey Park, with a satellite office in Lancaster that serves the Antelope Valley at the Alfred J. McCourtney Juvenile Justice Center.

To learn more about CASA, please visit:

National CASA (www.casaforchildren.org)
The National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association’s website lists CASA programs throughout the country that screen and train community volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children in court.

CASAnet (www.casanet.org)
CASAnet is the national support website for CASA volunteers and program staff.

Los Angeles Superior Court’s Juvenile Court (www.lasuperiorcourt.org)
The Los Angeles Juvenile Court’s website provides information about CASA of Los Angeles, the Edmund D. Edelman Children’s Court, and other support programs for children in foster care in L.A. County.

To report child abuse, neglect or abandonment contact the Los Angeles County Child Protection Hotline at 1-800-540-4000.