What is CASA?

CASA volunteers are the voice for children in foster care.
Volunteers build strong relationships with the children they serve through visits and quality time, giving children the chance to be truly heard and understood. CASA volunteers are able to communicate with all parties involved in a child’s life and provide judges with informed, first-hand recommendations. Their advocacy helps to ensure that the child’s best interests remain at the center of every court decision. Unlike social workers and attorneys, who have to divide their attention across many cases, CASA volunteers are assigned to just one case at a time, allowing them to be a consistent and trusted presence for the children and families they serve.

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 throughout Muskogee, Sequoyah, Wagoner, and McIntosh Counties in 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 2024, 67 volunteer advocates spoke up for the best interests of over 200 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
Children supported by a CASA volunteer are more likely to receive needed services, experience greater stability, and find safe, permanent homes more quickly.

Get Involved
Are you ready to stand up for a child who needs you? Volunteer today!

Our Values

Adaptability
We embrace the challenge of ongoing change; in the environment, in the court room,  in the demands and expectations placed on us,and in the needs of the children and volunteers that we serve. We strive to adapt our thinking and behavior in order to best respond to new conditions and circumstances as they arise.
Collaboration
We acknowledge that CASA for Children, Inc. is part of a greater network and that success in meeting our mission comes from unity and working collaboratively with the board of directors, Oklahoma CASA Association, our sister programs and the many other programs that also seek justice and permanency for the children we serve.
Integrity
We strive to uphold ethical principles through honesty, transparency, and fairness. We address problems that arise directly with one another, express appreciation, and celebrate the successes of those we work with and serve. We advocate for the success of others and continually strive to improve.
Service
We respond to the needs of our community and the children that have been removed from their home. We report directly to the judge with honest and fair information. We work directly with other community partners to ensure that these children gain permanency as quickly as possible.
Respect
We respect and appreciate our differences we embrace diversity in its many forms. We strive to be inclusive, welcoming, appreciative,and to support and assume the best in those we work with.
Quality
We pursue excellence in all we do, and strive for continual growth and development. We support our volunteers as they provide advocacy and direction for abused and neglected children.
Stewardship
We are true to our mission and values, doing what is best for the organization, our volunteers and the children we serve. We will be fair and honest when reporting to the judge and other involved parties. We will strive to find permanency.