At the heart of our program is the ProKids Court Appointed Special Advocate, or CASA. CASAs need no special legal or social-work background, and they come from all walks of life.
To be a CASA you must be 21 years old, be able to present yourself in a professional manner both orally and in writing, clear an extensive background check, and be able to make a one-year commitment.
Currently, ProKids has more than 150 CASAs making a difference in children’s lives.
- They range in age from 21 to 72.
- Some have high school degrees, while others have master’s degrees.
- Many are college students or stay-at-home moms, or are retired.
- Thirty-six percent of our CASAs have full-time jobs.
All CASAs have a little extra time each week to give to a child and a belief that these children are worth it.
CASAs spend an average of two to four hours per week working on their child’s case, much of it on the phone. They are required to see their child monthly or, for children younger than 3, two times a month, although many CASAs far exceed this requirement. ProKids asks a one-year commitment from our CASAs.
“I became a CASA volunteer because I realized foster children—who are in the system through no fault of their own—have no advocate, no one to speak for them. And they need someone.”
—Peggy Tojo, Former Nurse, CASA since 2003
“I became a CASA because children in foster care often get overlooked. It's gratifying when a child goes to a safe home and you know you played a big role in making that happen.”
—Angel New, Graduate Student, CASA since 2004
