Oklahoma, CASA for Children, Inc.

What is CASA for Children?

 

Children deserve a home, a place to belong. It is a child's right to live in a safe and permanent home. When children are abused and neglected, this right has been violated.


In the overburdened child welfare system abused and neglected children often slip through the cracks among hundreds of cases. CASA volunteers change that. Volunteers typically handle just one case at a time. While others come and go, CASA volunteers provide consistency in a child's life - often acting as the one constant that children need in order to thrive.
 

Black woman. Young black girl. High five. Close up. Be a voice. Be a CASA.


Mission

The mission of CASA for Children, a voice for children, is to ensure the rights to safety within the home, and permanency in a family, are protected through advocacy and education within Judicial District 15, State of Oklahoma.


History

In 1977, a Seattle juvenile court judge concerned about making drastic decisions with insufficient information, conceived the idea of citizen volunteers speaking up for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the courtroom. From that first program has grown a network of nearly 1,000 CASA programs across 49 states and the District of Columbia.


CASA for children, Inc. was established in 1997 and serves the children of Muskogee, Sequoyah, McIntosh and Wagoner Counties. In 2020, 121 advocates spoke up for the best interests of over 300 children, but there are many more children in need of a voice. Find out how you can volunteer to be that voice!


Evidence of Effectiveness

CASA volunteers have a profound impact on the children they serve. A child with a CASA volunteer is: 
 

  • More likely to be adopted;
  • Half as likely to re-enter foster care;
  • Substantially less likely to remain in long-term foster care;
  • More likely to have a plan for permanency;
  • More likely to do well in school;
  • Likely to receive more services than those without a CASA volunteer.
     

To learn more about the evidence of the effectiveness of CASA volunteers, visit the National CASA Association website.


Are you ready to stand up for a child who needs you? Volunteer Today!

 


 

"Every child needs a decent chance to be a success, some deprived children

have little to no chance because of circumstances beyond their control."

- Helen Bumgarner, CASA Volunteer

 



Please note that CASA for Children serves children only after being appointed to the legal case by court order. CASA staff members are unable to discuss or take action regarding a specific legal matter until a court order has been signed and received regarding the children involved. If you have a question regarding a legal case, please consult your attorney.