Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Ventura County believes that every court-dependent abused or neglected child should be safe, have permanence and the opportunity to thrive, and have a strong, compassionate volunteer Advocate. The organization recruits, screens, trains, and supports CASA volunteers. A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer is a trained community member who becomes a sworn officer of the court by the Juvenile Court Judges to represent the best interests of a court-dependent child. The CASA volunteer not only builds a one-on-one relationship with their child, but also collaborates with the child’s social worker and others who can offer insight into the well-being of the child, which may include relatives, parents, caregiver, school officials, health providers and others. CASAs ensure children involved with dependency courts have a voice in their proceedings. A CASA provides the court with carefully gathered information about how the child is doing while he is part of the juvenile court system. This information helps the court make a sound decision about the child’s best interest.