CASA for Children of Mercer and Burlington Counties

Our mission is to train and supervise community volunteers, appointed by the Family Court, to advocate for the best interests of children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse and/or neglect. Our dedicated volunteers strive to ensure the emotional, physical and educational well-being of these children while they reside in foster homes or residential facilities. The ultimate goal of our volunteers is to help establish a safe, stable and permanent home for each child we serve.

CASA for Children provides the following programs and services for children in the foster care system:

Child Advocacy: Children who are victims of abuse, neglect and abandonment are assigned to professionally trained volunteers for advocacy in the Family Court system

Volunteer Recruitment and Training: The process to become a CASA volunteer advocate includes recruitment, orientation sessions, interviews, background checks, 33 hours of combined online and classroom training, swearing-in ceremonies presided over by the Family Court Judges, and case assignment. 

Darkness to Light: Child sexual abuse is always a difficult topic to think and learn about. However, to prevent abuse, we have to break through the stigma and shame, and talk about how the sexual abuse of children happens.

Educational Advocacy: Nationally, only 50% of foster children graduate from high school by age 18, compared to 82% of typical children. College graduation rates are even lower with only 3% of youth in foster care graduating with a college degree. 

Fostering Futures: This program recognizes the plight of older youth who leave the child welfare system with seriously inadequate support systems or plans in place. It provides a framework for CASA volunteers to guide these youth 14 through 21 years old through intensive goal setting and planning emancipation.

Medical Advocacy: The primary goal of CASA Medical Advocacy is to assist with ensuring that children are receiving any and all healthcare needed to keep them in optimal health while they are in out-of-home placement.

Nurtured Heart Approach (NHA): NHA is a set of strategies that assists children in further developing their self-regulation and has been effective with children of all ages, especially those with behavioral challenges.