CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Tarrant County assists the family court system by providing trained, court-appointed volunteers who advocate on behalf of abused and neglected children by making recommendations for safe and permanent homes. Our work is powerful, it is impactful and most importantly, it changes the lives of children.

Every year, hundreds of abused children of all ages and cultures are removed from their parents and placed in foster homes. CPS (Child Protective Services) has gained legal custody of these kids and has only one year to either reunite them with family, or place the children up for adoption. In the overburdened court and child welfare systems these children are at risk of falling through the cracks of a faceless system that was designed to care for and protect them. CASA of Tarrant County provides caring, unbiased volunteers who take a stand for the children on the case they represent.

CASA of Tarrant County is part of a nationwide organization of Court Appointed Special Advocates (www.CASAForChildren.com) with 920 chapters and 70,000 volunteers in 50 states. Judge Scott Moore of the 323rd District Court, along with other community activists, established CASA of Tarrant County in 1984.

A volunteer Advocate is appointed by a judge to be an independent voice in court for an abused or neglected child who has been placed in foster care. These volunteers come from all walks of life. They are ordinary people doing extraordinary things. They speak up for children that have been neglected, abused, ignored. They’re trained and they have a cause - with a first and last name. 


After completing a 30-hour training class provided by CASA of Tarrant County, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) locate the foster home and begin visiting the child regularly. Volunteer Advocates work closely with, but independent of, Child Protective Services (CPS) and attorneys.

The role of the volunteer Advocate is:

• To be a fact-finder for the judge
  The volunteer Advocate talks with the child, parents, family members, school officials, health providers and others who are knowledgeable about the child's history. The volunteer Advocate then provides the judge with a carefully researched background of the child to help the court make a sound decision about the child's future.
• To speak for the child in court
  The volunteer Advocate makes a recommendation to the court for permanent placement, whether it is in the best interest of the child to live with the parent(s), live with relatives, remain in foster care, or be available for permanent adoption.
• To act as a "watchdog" for the child
  During the life of the case, the volunteer Advocate ensures the child's needs are met and the case is resolved swiftly and appropriately. The CASA must visit the child(ren) at least twice per month – with one of the visits taking place at the child’s home.

CASA volunteers offer children consistency, trust and advocacy during complex legal proceedings. They explain to the child the events that are happening, the reasons they are in court, and the roles that the judges, lawyers and social workers play. Throughout the ongoing relationship, CASA volunteers also encourage the child to express his or her own opinion and hopes, while remaining objective observers.

Caseworkers are employed by state governments. They work on as many as 30 cases at a time and are frequently unable to conduct a comprehensive investigation of each. The CASA worker is a volunteer with more time and a smaller caseload (an average of 1-2 cases at a time). The CASA volunteer does not replace a caseworker on a case; he or she is an independent appointee of the court. The CASA volunteer can examine a child's case thoroughly, has knowledge of community resources, and can make recommendations to the court, independent of state agency restrictions. 


The volunteer Advocate does not provide legal representation in the courtroom; that is the role of the attorney. A volunteer Advocate speaks specifically to what is in the best interests of the child and provides crucial background information that assists attorneys in presenting their cases.

CASA has been endorsed by the American Bar Association, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the U.S. Department of Justice. CASA is described as "the eyes and ears of the judge," and frequently acts as "the arms and legs" of an overworked child protective system.

Any child who has been abused or neglected and has become a ward of the court may be assigned a volunteer Advocate.

Our goal is to provide a volunteer Advocate to every child who needs one. The staff at CASA of Tarrant County tries to assign every foster child a volunteer, but sadly, there are not enough trained volunteer Advocates to go around.

No. There are other child advocacy organizations, but CASA of Tarrant County is the only program consisting of volunteers appointed by the court to represent a child's best interests.

The National CASA organization is a priority project of the Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The OJJDP encourages establishment of new programs, assists established programs and provides funding for the National CASA Association.

The Texas Legislature sets aside funds specifically for Texas CASA programs, which are distributed by our state organization. The remaining funds are raised through foundation grants, civic organizations and our own fundraising efforts.

Absolutely. CASA welcomes any amount you are able to give. Learn how your donation can touch lives in Tarrant County.

Volunteer Advocates come from all walks of life, representing a variety of ethnic, educational and socioeconomic backgrounds. Approximately two-thirds of our volunteer Advocates are employed full-time, some are college students and some are retired. The one thing they have in common is the conviction that every child deserves a safe and permanent home.

Each case is different. A CASA volunteer usually spends more time conducting research and interviews prior to the first court appearance. Once the initial investigation is complete, volunteers spend approximately 10-12 hours a month maintaining contacts and gathering information.

Advocates are volunteers and are not monetarily compensated.

Volunteer Advocates are not required to have a background in law; CASA of Tarrant County provides all the necessary training. We conduct five training sessions per year. The 30-hour course provides volunteer Advocates with an overview of courtroom procedure from judges, lawyers and caseworkers. Volunteer Advocates also learn about specific topics ranging from the symptoms and effects of abuse and neglect, to early childhood development and cultural diversity.

Volunteer Advocates must be at least 21 years of age and pass a background check. They also must have a valid driver's license, a good driving record, proof of automobile insurance, reliable transportation and the ability to be both compassionate and objective.

Apply to become a volunteer Advocate.