Melissa Helmbrecht

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem Counties is an organization of volunteer advocates who stand up on behalf of abused and neglected children. Over 1,000 abused and neglected children in our three counties are currently waiting on the critical voice of a volunteer advocate. What is a CASA volunteer? A CASA volunteer is an officer of the court. A judge appoints a special advocate, as mandated in SDCL 26-8A-20, to represent the best interest of an abused or neglected child in court proceedings. What does a CASA volunteer do? A trained CASA volunteer gathers information for the court. He or she recommends to the judge what the child needs to be safe and what is in the child’s best interest in securing a permanent home. A CASA volunteer advocates for a speedy decision that considers a child’s sense of time.