National CASA Grants Program

The Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990, as amended (Public Law 101-647), mandates that all abused and neglected children involved in dependency proceedings receive timely, sensitive, and effective advocacy. The Act directs that a court-appointed special advocate shall be available to every victim of child abuse or neglect in the United States that needs such an advocate. The Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Program ensures that abused and neglected children receive high quality representation in dependency court hearings. This program is authorized by Section 217 of the Victims of Child Abuse Act, Pub.L. 101-647 (42 U.S.C. Section 13013).

This project will enhance current resources to the CASA network to strengthen and expand CASA organizations, enabling them to serve more children and to increase the diversity of CASA volunteers to better reflect the children served. The project will fund recruitment, training and supervision of highly dedicated volunteers who work individually with children to ensure that the child welfare system and the courts meet their best interests. CA/NCF