SAN FRANCISCO CASA

SAN FRANCISCO, California, 94103 United States

Mission Statement

San Francisco CASA transforms the lives of children and youth traumatized and displaced in the foster care and related systems by providing one consistent, caring volunteer advocate, trained to address each child’s needs in the court and community.

About This Cause

The San Francisco CASA Program (SFCASA) is a community-based, 501(c)3 organization founded in 1991. It is one of more than 900 independent CASA programs throughout the United States. SFCASA is the only volunteer program in San Francisco that empowers everyday citizens to become officers of the court to serve as advocates and mentors to abused and neglected children in foster care. Removed from the only families and communities they know, foster youth suffer from isolation in normal times . 65% of San Francisco's foster youth are placed outside the county, often 100 miles away or more, and in the current crisis, social worker and family visits are largely on hold. SFCASA volunteer advocates are staying connected and making sure foster youth's needs do not fall through the cracks during the pandemic. SFCASA launched an Emergency Fund CASAs can access to address urgent needs, and CASAs are focusing advocacy around three areas of concern during the crisis; education, placements at risk, and connections with family and communities of support. In an overburdened and under-funded social welfare system, foster children can slip through the cracks without a caring and consistent adult to speak up on their behalf. SFCASA volunteers change that. They provide judges with the crucial information needed to make sound decisions that affect the lives of foster children. Volunteers help these children by: Advocating for safe, permanent, and nurturing homes Addressing their educational, healthcare, and other urgent needs Helping them to develop permanent connections in the community All volunteers are screened, trained, and supervised by professional SFCASA staff. We serve cases referred to us by the Unified Family Court, the Human Services Agency, or children’s attorneys. SFCASA operates under the authority of, and according to guidelines established by, the Judicial Council of California and local rules of court.

SAN FRANCISCO CASA
1663 Mission Street Ste 700
SAN FRANCISCO, California 94103
United States
Phone 415.398.8001
Twitter @sfcasa
Unique Identifier 943039028