MISSION, VISION, & VALUES
Our Mission
The mission of California CASA is to ensure that children and youth in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems have both a voice and the services they need to thrive. We achieve this by strengthening and empowering California’s network of local CASA programs and advocating for effective child welfare policies and practices.
Our Vision
Every child in the California child welfare and juvenile justice systems who needs advocacy will have the transformative support of a CASA volunteer.
Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Pledge
California CASA pledges to:
Sustain a culture across the CA CASA network recognized for being firmly grounded in leveraging diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), to ensure equity in all that we do. The CA CASA Association will function as a knowledge-based, fact-finding, and teaching cohort in support of the children, families, staff, volunteers, Boards of Directors, and partners we serve.
Seek opportunities to recruit, hire, promote, and partner with our CASA staff members, board members, and volunteers so that CASA programs better reflect the diversity of the children we serve. We knowingly commit to paying particular attention to the dimensions of diversity that most impact feelings of safety and security – race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, religious beliefs, and socio-economic status.
Assist our local programs who advocate for fairness and equity in every case to which CASA volunteers are assigned by the courts with data and training. Empower and support each staff member, board member, and volunteer who advocates for children to possess a clear understanding of how a child’s unique culture and identity impacts decision making and their role in influencing the case outcome.
Advocate for and support relevant anti-discrimination policies in the California state legislature, California judiciary, with local government officials, and in state and local county child welfare and social services departments that are within our sphere of influence. This includes policies that protect youth based on all identities including race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, religion, and socioeconomics.
Lead by example through our own policies, recruiting, decisions, and communications by being culturally responsive and inclusive of all identities.
We are committed to regular assessment of our pledge and our progress on this journey.
Our Values
COLLABORATION
We acknowledge that we are part of a greater community and work respectfully with local CASA programs and other partners to effectively carry out our mission.
INNOVATION
We embrace bold creativity to transform new ideas into tangible services and results for local CASA programs.
IMPACT
We are dedicated to supporting, empowering, and evaluating the impact of local CASA programs so that they perform at their highest level of advocacy for children and youth in foster care, and their families.
INCLUSIVENESS
We value, embrace, and respect the inclusion of all cultures, races, orientations, and ethnicities, treating everyone fairly and equitably.
JUSTICE
We believe that children and youth in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems deserve fair and just treatment, advocacy, and equitable opportunity.
Strategic Plan FY2024-FY2026
A new three-year strategic plan creates a path forward for California CASA to pursue three priorities:
Continue to support and expand the core CASA model.
Expand our scope of advocacy to recruit, train, and supervise CASAs to serve youth in the juvenile justice system.
Advocate for systemic change within the child welfare system.