Piedmont CASA

WHAT DOES HAVING A CASA MEAN TO A KID IN FOSTER CARE?
One of the best ways to explain how important it is for children in the system to have a CASA is to share one of their stories. When Doraine entered foster care at age 11, she was assigned an Advocate. It wasn’t long before she realized Dan was different from most of the people she had been meeting in the system. In her words: “This isn’t just his job. He cares.” Dan was Doraine’s Advocate for seven years and because he cared, Doraine is in her second year of a full-ride UVA scholarship. 

When a child in foster care has a CASA, their likelihood of finding a safe, permanent home doubles, and their risk of re-entering the foster care system is cut in half.

Piedmont CASA is not impeded by jurisdictional boundaries, and we are able to stay with children throughout the life of a case. This ensures that even when social workers, foster parents, and schools change, CASA Advocates do not – thus providing important continuity for the child. 

No other organization provides this service, and we do not charge fees.

OUR CURRENT CHALLENGE
For more than a year now, there has been a steady increase in the number of children entering foster care in our community. At the close of FY25, we had served 21% more children than the year before: up from 191 to 230. We are now 7.5 months into our current fiscal year and already serving more children (231) than in the entire preceding year. If the increase continues at the same rate, we will be serving 286 children by the end of FY26 – that’s a 50% increase.

Right now, there are 39 children on the wait list. For every two children, we need to recruit, screen, train and support at least one additional CASA Advocate. To add 40 or more children to our caseload annually, we need to provide at least 20 new Advocates annually - in addition to those we must continuously add to account for attrition.

Build strong children, build a strong community

WHO ARE THE CHILDREN WE SERVE?
The children we serve are assigned to us by the Court and are in foster care due to allegations of abuse and neglect. They range in age from newborn to 21. Nearly 80% come from households surviving at or below the federal poverty line. They are Caucasian, African-American, Multiracial, Asian, Native American, and Hispanic. But they all have two things in common: they are part of our community and they need our help.

WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES A CASA MAKE?
The need for CASA Advocates is plainly evident in the research: foster kids with CASAs receive more medical and emotional support, do better in school, and find safe, permanent homes faster. Research also shows that kids with CASAs are more hopeful. And when kids have hope, outcomes improve. They have more academic success, enhanced well-being, increased self-control, positive social relationships, and optimism – tools they need to recover.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, child abuse and neglect cost the United States $328 billion per year, rivaling the cost of other high-profile public health problems. Per victim, the estimated average lifetime cost of nonfatal child mistreatment is $830,928, more than the lifetime cost of stroke or type 2 diabetes. Without appropriate trauma-informed intervention, the cost for 10 maltreated children could be more than eight million dollars over the course of their lifetimes.

The whole community has a critical need to forestall this fallout. By providing trained community volunteers to advocate in court for children who have been abused or neglected, our program assists the court and child welfare system to address all of the children’s needs, including safety, permanency, placement stability, physical health, mental health and education. When we reduce the suffering of children and expand their opportunities, society benefits.

CASA ADVOCATES GIVE CHILDREN HOPE
Research shows that boys and girls with CASA Advocates are more hopeful. When kids have hope, outcomes improve. They have more academic success, enhanced well-being, increased self-control, positive social relationships, and optimism -- tools they need to change their story. These are key to enabling these youngsters to become stable, productive adults.  

OUR HISTORY
Since 1995, Piedmont CASA has trained more than 860 volunteers who have advocated for over 2,700 children. We serve Charlottesville, Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, and Madison. In order to ensure the highest level of advocacy for our children, as well as support for their families, Piedmont CASA works closely with other service providers and stakeholders.

Last year, 118 CASA Advocates invested 11,080 hours in advocacy for their kids. This time investment is valued at $385,473 by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. (11,080 hours x $34.79 per hour).

Build strong children, build a strong community