CASA makes the crucial connection —
one caring adult to one child in need —
that can be the turning point in a life
that has been disrupted.
Children in the dependency and juvenile justice court system face obstacles in receiving the basic care that all children need, like emotional support and a chance for a stable and loving home. They often lack appropriate education and vocational training, medical and mental health care.
We make sure every child is cared for and has the resources to thrive.
GATHERING INFORMATION
TAKING ACTION AND ADVOCATING FOR A CHILD
MAKING A REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION TO THE COURT
SUPPORTING THE CHILD
— JUNIOR, AGE 16
Advocacy
CASA Advocacy is individualized to the needs of the child and their family.
Through CASA advocacy, our children are meeting more of their educational goals. They are experiencing lower degrees of risk around their mental health and medical wellbeing. They are achieving higher rates of permanency.
CASAs provide consistency in a child’s life. Their support and encouragement can be invaluable to the child in their time in the foster system, and the years after it.
A CASA’s work begins with getting to know a child and their situation. Through our information gathering, we advocate for their best interests and make recommendations to the court so the judge can make the best decision for the child.
Specialized
Advocacy
Early Childhood
This initiative advances CASA/LA’s commitment to help children ages 0-5. In LA County, about a third of the children entering foster care are ages 0-5 with 19% under 24 months. As the developmental needs of the child and expectant and parenting youth are recognized earlier, interventions happen sooner, and children achieve reunification with parents or their permanency option quicker and more successfully.
Youth Justice
CASAs can advocate for youth in juvenile justice court and become a critical support system to ensure youth spend the least amount of time in the juvenile justice system as possible. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for youth in the dependency system to come in contact with the juvenile justice system. Youth already served by the dependency system are also more likely to receive harsher sentencing when compared to youth that are not systems involved.
Our Youth Justice Program (YJP) provides early intervention and preventative services to youth who are in or at risk of involvement in LA County’s juvenile justice system, most of whom also have open cases in the county’s child welfare system. YJP-enrolled youth will receive intensive, individualized advocacy (via either staff or volunteer intervention) that helps them avoid or minimize their time in the juvenile justice system. Youth may self-refer to the program, or be referred by their caregiver, attorney, the LA County Office of Education (LACOE), probation, district attorney’s office, or their hearing officer. Alongside courtroom advocacy, YJP youth will be linked to non-punitive supports that promote healing, including diversion services and educational, mental health, and pro-social supports.
Our Youth Justice team visits detention settings to collect referrals and facilitate check-ins and group discussions with detained children, all while meeting regularly with government and community partners, i.e .Probation, LACOE, Public Defender’s office, Independent Juvenile Defender Program (IJDP), and others to establish partnerships to advocate for major systems-changes (i.e. supporting legislation that closes halls and supports reunification and supportive services for families).
“When I met LaTanya, she completely gave me a different perspective on life. Without her I wouldn’t be here today. She’s my educational rights holder, she was that advocate for me. And that’s the reason why I went from having low grades in my sophomore year to getting straight A’s in my junior year. Kids in the foster care system are not all sad and broken. We all want to do good for ourselves.”
– Kim, 19