To me CASA means that our children have a chance. The children I see that have CASAs have a greater chance of leading normal, happy, healthy lives. CASAs make a difference in a way that words can never express. We hope as time progresses that we will have a CASA for every child and every family. That’s a dream right now, and hopefully it will become a reality.

-Judge W. Jeanne Meurer
98th District Court
Travis County

Mission:
CASA of Travis County, Inc. recruits, screens, trains, and supervises volunteers to provide “guardian ad litem” representation for abused and neglected children to help them reach a safe and permanent home.

Established in 1985, CASA of Travis County was the fourth CASA program launched in Texas.  During the first year of operation, CASA recruited and trained 43 volunteers and served a total of 85 children.  The organization has grown steadily ever since to maintain a volunteer base of over 400 and serve more than 1,200 children annually.

CASA volunteers are concerned community members who complete 30 hours of intensive training and donate an average of 20 hours a month to the service of one child or sibling group for a minimum of one year.  CASA volunteers monitor each child’s educational, therapeutic, placement, legal, and medical progress and work one-on-one with each child to gain trust, offer insight, and speak up for the child’s best interest.  Court appointed by a judge, a volunteer advocate provides verbal and written reports to the judge including final placement recommendations.  The opinions of the CASA volunteers and staff members are often incorporated into the children's service plans.  CASA staff provides guidance and supervision for the volunteers as they serve child victims.

CASA’s intense personalized advocacy often uncovers critical information about a child’s situation and brings it to light in court.  The foster care system is overwhelmed by the number of children in its care, forcing social workers to carry large caseloads and provide limited opportunities for the one-on-one attention that every child in the system deserves.  CASA volunteers are able to meet with the children frequently and are able to share information with DFPS for a greater level of care. The regular contact with the child allows the CASA volunteer to build a relationship, make sure all the child’s needs are met, and assure the child is in a safe, permanent home. 

CASA of Travis County is a non-profit organization 501(c)(3) governed by a board of directors made up of community volunteers. CASA of Travis County receives funding from a variety of sources, including:

• City, County, State and Federal Grants
• United Way/Capital Area
• Private Foundations, Corporations, Small Businesses, Community Organizations, and Individuals
• Special events such as the CASAblanca Gala, CASA Kids Golf Classic, the Jackson Ruiz Salon Cut-A-Thon and the 5K.