Caja Friends Inc

Every Child’s Right.

A six-year-old girl rescued from an abusive father and bounced around to eight foster homes and six different schools over the course of two years. Four children separated from each other and placed in different locations after their mother was jailed.  A young boy kicked out of his house, and forced to sleep on a cot in the hallway of a group home until he turned eighteen—when all his possessions were handed to him in a garbage bag as he was officially “aged out” of the system.

These are not isolated stories. They are everyday realities of children in the foster care and child welfare system. This is a failure of society’s fundamental obligation to protect the rights and needs of children.

The solution is a CAJA volunteer—a specially trained advocate, appointed by a judge, who fights for the rights of children during the most vulnerable time of their young lives. A trusted adult empowered to ensure that each child is well cared for—able to find a safe, loving, permanent home.

Each year, an estimated 2000 reports of child abuse or neglect are received in Madison County.  More than 500 Madison County Children are in the foster care system. Due to funding limitations, we were only able to help 20% of these children. Shouldn't every day be a good day when you are a kid? You can make a difference!  

The Court Appointed Juvenile Advocates (CAJA) program in Madison County is affiliated with the National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association (CASA). There are over 950 CASA/CAJA programs nationwide. We are an all- volunteer, community-based solution to the growing problem of abuse, neglect and abandonment.   CAJA volunteers are appointed by judges as Officers of the Court to objectively investigate child abuse and neglect cases. CAJA volunteers come from all professions - teachers, engineers, auto workers, homemakers, college students. They are united in the belief that every child deserves a safe, permanent home, as quickly as possible.

Join us! Help us reach every child!

CAJA advocates for abused and neglected children, children in foster care, in the child welfare system and in the juvenile courts.  We serve Madison County, Huntsville, Madison, and the surrounding areas including the following zip codes:  35801, 35802, 35803, 35804, 35805, 35806, 35607, 35808, 35809, 35810, 35811, 35812, 35813, 35814, 35815, 35816, 35762, 35824, 35893, 35894, 35895, 35896, 35897, 35898, 35899, 35757. 35758. 35759. 35763, 35741, 35748, 35749, 35750, 35897, 35760, 35761, 35762, 35767, 35773.