What is a Legislative Advocacy Team?

A Legislative Advocacy Team (LAT) is a group of committed CASA volunteers, board members or staff who take their advocacy for children and families to the next level by using their experience to advocate for policy change in the child welfare and juvenile justice system.

California CASA supports the LAT teams by providing important policy information, opportunities to engage in legislative advocacy and key messaging strategies to ensure that the CASA network is speaking in one voice at the California Capitol and in independent meetings with their local elected officials. LATs support the legislative agenda set by California CASA through commitment to the following activities: developing relationships with their legislators, learning about systemic child welfare issues, attending California CASA events, and acting on child welfare policies.

As part of a LAT, volunteers can advocate for children and families on a larger scale and work toward solutions to the systemic problems they encounter in their role as CASA volunteers. This gives them the chance to be a voice of change not only for the children and families they serve, but for every child and family in the child welfare and juvenile justice system!

If you have any questions about Legislative Advocacy Teams, please send an email to legislativeadvocacy@californiacasa.org.