CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Missoula trains volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children in the court system until the children can be placed in safe, permanent homes. Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteers act as the “eyes and ears” for the Judge, gathering information about the child and the family, and keeping the focus on the child and their best interests. 

Additionally, while attorneys and Child & Family Services caseworkers often have to juggle 30+ cases each, a CASA volunteer is able to invest all their time into supporting one family. 

Studies show CASA volunteers positively impact children in the foster system in several ways. Children with a CASA:

1. Are half as likely to re-enter the foster care system.

2. Are more likely to find a safe, permanent home.

3. Receive more services while in the system. 

4. Do better in school academically and behaviorally.

5. Report significantly higher levels of hope.

In 2019 alone, CASA of Missoula’s 121 active CASA volunteers dedicated over 3,673 hours to supporting 334 abused and neglected children in Missoula and Mineral County.

CASA volunteers are more critical than ever before because they are a consistent set of eyes on a child in their time of greatest need. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, abused and neglected children have become less visible and more at risk. Providing these children with a CASA volunteer, helps ensure their emotional, educational, medical, legal, and safety needs are met until they can reside in a safe, permanent home.