Every year in California:

Half a million children are referred to Child Protective Services because of child maltreatment. 20%, or about 150,000, are substantiated as experiencing physical abuse or neglect, emotional abuse or neglect, sexual abuse, or a combination thereof.

In Nevada County child maltreatment is most often due to:

Drug and alcohol abuse by parents Parental mental health issues Poor parenting skills Stress in families

When affected children are removed from their families because of abuse and neglect, they become “dependents” of the court and enter into a 12 to18 month court process. The children are often living in foster care as the court tries to determine whether or not it is in the child’s best interest to be reunited with their family. These kids desperately need a committed, caring adult to become familiar with their lives and advocate for what that child needs and wants. That is why a CASA volunteer is so important.

Nevada County CASAs:

Meet regularly with the child or children Review all important information about the child Maintain contact with the important people in the child’s life Advocate for the child in the system Write reports for the Dependency Court judge about what is best for the child’s future

Our CASA volunteers are screened and complete a 35-hour training program before they are sworn in as an Officer of the Court. When assigned to a case, CASAs commit to staying with that child throughout the court process so that they can find a safe, loving, and permanent home as soon as possible.

Become a CASA Volunteer! Training April, 2010.

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