Court Appointed Special Advocates of Los Angeles (CASA) volunteers advocate for children in foster care.

Court Appointed Special Advocates of Los Angeles (CASA) is a nonprofit organization that enlists screened, trained, and supervised community volunteers to advocate for the best interests of children in foster care. CASA volunteers work closely with a child to help guide them through key areas of their life, particularly focusing on finding permanent placement, school enrollment, health needs, and mental health issues. As allies, these volunteers advocate for the child's best interests by gathering information and making recommendations to the dependency court, serving as a vital resource for the family. The mission of Kidsave, associated with this effort, is to help children grow up connected to caring adults. Individuals can volunteer to become a buddy to a child separated from their parents, donate monthly, mentor, or host a child on weekends and holidays so they do not grow up alone. Faith-based organizations are also encouraged to get involved by supporting Los Angeles families and children through various actions such as posting flyers, making brochures available to congregations, hosting adoption matching events, or inviting foster youth to church activities. For more information on how faith-based organizations can support children in DCFS foster care, contact Ivonne Crescioni at (626) 229-3778. For information regarding donations, contact Ruth Kame, Adoption Division at (213) 259-5334. Additional contact numbers are available for 24-hour service within California and outside California, as well as a TDD line for those who are hearing impaired.