Do you remember how spring felt as a child? It probably involved extracurricular sports with friends, hiking, riding bikes, even flying kites?
What if we told you that all of these activities are activities that some of our foster children experienced with their CASA volunteers for the FIRST time?
The truth is, the things that most kids experience special opportunities for foster kids. These opportunities most often made possible by our CASA volunteers... ordinary people who play extraordinary roles in the lives of foster children.
Yolo County CASA was established in 1995 by concerned community members who recognized that children in the dependency/foster care system were in dire need of independent advocacy. This group recognized that in order to have a positive impact on the lives of traumatized children and their families, the community must be engaged in advocating for our most vulnerable members.
Yolo County CASA joined a larger movement that started in Washington State by Judge David W. Soukup and citizen volunteers to help gather and provide additional information about how children in the foster care system were faring, while also providing a stable, healthy consistent adult for each child in the system. Today, over 950 CASA programs serve children in the foster care system throughout the country.
At Yolo CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) we are dedicated to supporting local children in foster care. Our mission is to provide these children with a voice in the courtroom, as well as guidance & support during one of the most challenging times in their lives. Our volunteers, trained & appointed by judges, serve as dedicated advocates for these children, ensuring their needs are met and that they are given a chance to thrive despite the challenges they may have faced. Through their work, CASA volunteers build trusting relationships with the children & families they serve, offering a sense of stability, hope, & personal attention in a system that can often feel overwhelming. Yolo CASA works endlessly to make sure that every child in our care is treated with dignity and respect while ensuring their best interests remain at the heart of every decision made. Our volunteers make a lifelong difference, helping shape brighter futures for children in Yolo County & ensuring they don’t have to navigate their journey alone. We are honored to be part of their stories. Thank you for supporting this important work.
We are always looking for new volunteers to become child advocates... as hundreds of children in Yolo County's foster care system do not have a CASA volunteer. Someday, we hope no foster child goes without one.
We are always seeking new funding sources/donations to
1) Help us serve our youth and current volunteers.
2) Grow our capacity to recruit and retain CASA volunteers in order to serve those children who do not have one yet.
Gift cards for gasoline -- over 50% of the Yolo County's children in foster care are placed in homes outside Yolo County. Our volunteers drive their own automobiles at their own expense to see them. As often as we can, CASA staff will gift a $25 gas card to our volunteers as a small token of appreciation for the effort and expense that goes into their advocacy.
Gift cards -- any kind. Children in the foster care system often find that nearly every decision is made for them -- where they live, where they attend school, what they eat, when they can see their parents, even what clothes they have to wear. Having a CASA visiting on a regular basis can provide the youth with an opportunity to make their own decisions -- where they will go during the visit, what they will eat, how they will spend their time together. Therefore, gift cards that the CASA and youth can use during their time together can make this time together extra special. We love to share gift cards for restaurants, movies, or stores like Target where the CASA can give their youth an experience that they might not otherwise have had.
Our board is very active and takes on a large chunk of fundraising responsibilities. We are looking for two or three committed individuals who are willing to roll up their sleeves and join us.
Yolo County CASA is an Equal Opportunity organization committed to a discrimination-free environment. We do not tolerate discrimination based on ancestry, race, color, religion (including religious dress and grooming), sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, disability (physical or mental, including HIV and AIDS), genetic information, military or veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, or requests related to FMLA. Inclusivity and equity are fundamental to our mission, and we uphold these values in all aspects of our work.
Organization name
Yolo County CASA
1995
Tax id (EIN)
68-0362495
Mission Category
Civil Rights, Social Action & Advocacy
Operating Budget
$500,001-$1 million
Organization Need
Volunteers, Funding: Unrestricted, Board Members, In-Kind Donations
Demographics Served
Youth & Children
Local Counties Served
Yolo
Address
724 Main St. Suite 101Yolo, CA, US