CASA OF SAN MATEO COUNTY

Redwood City, California, 94065 United States

Mission Statement

The mission of CASA San Mateo County is to ensure that all abused and neglected children under the protection of the Juvenile Court, because their parents can't or won't care for them, have a consistent, caring adult to help them reach their full potential. CASA has served over 1,200 foster children and youth with its unique, and often life-changing, services not available through any other agency in San Mateo County since 1990. This year, CASA of San Mateo County is serving 220 children and youth with the assistance of 195 CASA volunteers, yet, hundreds of children and youth remain on our waitlist to receive these services. It costs CASA of San Mateo county about $2,500 to provide a child or youth with a CASA volunteer for one year.

About This Cause

CASA of San Mateo County (“CASA”) a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency, is the Court Appointed Special Advocates Program for San Mateo County. Our mission is to ensure that all abused and neglected children under the protection of the court have a consistent, caring adult to help them reach their full potential. Since 1990, CASA of San Mateo County has been serving foster children and youth and delinquent youth with its unique and often life-changing services which are not available through any other agency. CASA recruits, trains, and supports adult community volunteers who are assigned to children and youth, ages 0 to 18, in the foster care and delinquency systems. After completing a rigorous screening process, 33 hours of initial training, background checks and being sworn as court officers by a Juvenile Court Judge, CASA volunteers begin to work a child. CASA volunteers support their children in numerous ways: • Weekly visits • Identify social, emotional, physical, developmental, and educational needs • Ensure needs are met in a timely and appropriate manner • Monitor well-being and safety in their home placements • Oversee and support academic progress • Engage in enrichment activities • Facilitate information sharing among professionals • Write reports to the Court to help guide the judges’ decision making. • Provide consistent support during traumatic events and transitions, such as changes in home placements, schools and foster families • Serve as the child’s friend CASA volunteers spend more one-on-one time with their children than any of the professionals involved in a child’s life. They are often the only consistent adults spending time with and advocating for these children during the entire time they are in the foster care system. CASA volunteers focus on the needs, comfort, and happiness of the children, helping them to have as normal lives as possible under traumatic circumstances.

CASA OF SAN MATEO COUNTY
330 Twin Dolphin Drive, Ste. 139
Redwood City, California 94065
United States
Phone 650-517-5842
Twitter @CASA_SMC
Unique Identifier 043849393