Pennsylvania Court Appointed Special Advocates

Change a Child’s Story™

What is PA CASA?

Pennsylvania Court Appointed Special Advocates Association is the statewide non-profit organization that

develops new programs
advocates for local programs
provides training
supports the network of local CASA programs and volunteers

Local CASA programs are organized for a specific juvenile court jurisdiction. There are 22 local programs serving 28 counties.

Children who have been abused, neglected, or abandoned and are being served by dependency courts through foster care, kinship care, or group homes are served by CASA volunteer advocates.

What is a CASA Volunteer?

The CASA volunteer advocate is a trained advocate, 21 years or older, who works under the supervision of a local CASA volunteer coordinator. The CASA volunteer serves as the independent extra set of ‘eyes and ears’ of the court, gathering information from the child, their biological parents, foster parents, teachers, counselors, and others. The CASA makes recommendations to the judge as to what services or actions are in the child’s best interest.