An advocate is defined as “one who supports or promotes the interests of a cause or group,” according to Merriam Webster.
Support of a cause is exactly what Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers do throughout New Jersey.
“CASA of Middlesex County, like all CASA programs, advocates for the best interests of children who have been removed from home due to abuse or neglect,” said Stephanie Brown, a licensed social worker and executive director of CASA of Middlesex County.
“Our advocates attend court hearings and make recommendations to the judge. Advocates ensure that children’s needs are met.”
Needs may include more frequent sibling visits, special education evaluations, extracurricular activities and even family reunification or adoption, Brown said.
CASA New Jersey, established in January 2000, includes 12 county-based programs. State and county CASA programs aim to protect the overall well-being of children in foster care who may have faced physical, psychological or emotional trauma and years of uncertainty as they wait to go home, be adopted, or to simply see what happens next, according to the CASA of New Jersey website.
CASA volunteers are able to provide a caring and protective environment at that time.
“At CASA, our volunteers advocate for the best interests of children living in the foster care system,” explained Lauren Crenshaw, executive director of CASA of Atlantic, Cape May, and Camden counties. “Through collaborative efforts, we play a critical role, ensuring that every child receives the individual attention and support they need to thrive, while they are away from their families.
“By advocating for their best interests, CASAs make a significant impact, helping empower children and youth to feel more secure and hopeful about their future.”
CASA volunteers – who receive about 30 hours of training – must be at least 21 years old. They are also thoroughly screened with background checks before being appointed by a judge to advocate for a foster child’s best interests.
“We have become very integrated into the court system,” noted Dr. Lori Morris, interim executive director of CASA of Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties. “Judges depend on the work of CASA volunteers.”
Every three to four months, CASA volunteers provide court reports about their cases for a judge, according to Tracey Heisler, executive director for CASA of Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren counties. They usually include a summary of the volunteer’s interactions as he or she “talks to schools, parents and foster parents and gathers information on how they’re (the child) is doing.”
Volunteers are assigned to one child/sibling group and can “change the trajectory of a child’s life, a family’s life by shortening the amount of time that a child is without a home,” Morris noted. The volunteers, she added, have “a lot of grit.”
CASA volunteers provided best interest advocacy to 2,822 children and youth in foster care in fiscal year 2024 (July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024), reports the CASA of New Jersey website. As of July 1, 2024, 1,544 volunteers are serving 2,822 children.
Programs are supported financially through a combination of federal and state funds and local fundraising. Events such as CASA of Middlesex County’s Toast 2025 help the organization raise funds and recognize the work of exceptional community members. That fundraiser – scheduled for May 6 at The Chateau Grande Hotel in East Brunswick – will bestow the following awards: Inspirational Leader, Jonathan Cowles; Superstar Advocate, Toni Hendrix; and Community Champion, Bags of Love.
CASA of New Jersey will host Blossoms and Bright Futures 2025 on May 8 at McLoone’s Pier House in Long Branch. The fundraiser will recognize the organization’s continued strides in advocacy for abused and neglected children.
CASA chapters throughout the state also host events to appeal for funds, honor the dedication of community members and show gratitude for the commitment of their volunteers.
For more information on how to become a CASA volunteer, visit https://casaofnj.org/.
