Welcome to CASA for Children of Bergen County!
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) volunteers are everyday people who are appointed by judges to advocate for the best interest of abused and neglected children living in the foster care system. A CASA volunteer advocates for one child's case until he/she is placed into a safe, permanent and loving home.
Every year in New Jersey, approximately 9,000 abused and neglected children are removed from their homes and placed in the foster care system (including foster homes, residential treatment facilities, shelter, and hospitals). Bergen County is home to over 300 of these children. The Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program ensures that these children -- victims of physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological torment, or abandonment -- have a voice in the court proceedings that determine their fates. There are over 900 CASA programs throughout the United States. CASA for Children of Bergen County is affiliated with both National CASA and CASA of NJ.
Mission Statement
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for Children of Bergen County is an independent, nonprofit organization of professionals and trained volunteers who have been appointed by the NJ Family Court to advocate for children removed from their homes due to abuse and/or neglect. CASA works to ensure that needed services and assistance are made available to these children while helping to move them toward safe and permanent homes.
WANT TO BECOME A VOLUNTEER: The first step is to attend an Information Session and learn all about CASA. CASA will hold an Information Session on the third Wednesday of the month at 10:00am (Upcoming sessions include June 19, 2013, July 17, 2013 and August 15, 2013). These sessions will take place at One Bergen County Plaza, in Hackensack - click here for directions. If you are interested in attending a session, please call the office at 201-336-7520 or email us at info@bergencasa.org in order to RSVP for a specific session.
Upcoming Trainings include:
Fall 2013 - dates to be determined
Snapshot of CASA for Children of Bergen County
- 9 years old – opened in August 2003
- 3 full time employees; 1 part time employee; 1 AmeriCorps Member
- 26 volunteer trainings held
- 237 volunteers trained and assigned to help children in need
- 373 children advocated for to-date
- 38,450 hours donated by CASA volunteers
In the state of NJ, every citizen, regardless of occupation, is a mandatory reporter of child abuse and/or neglect. If you suspect someone is being abused or neglected, please call the state child welfare hotline at 1-877-NJ-ABUSE (1-877-652-2873)
CASA for Children of Bergen County is a proud member of the AmeriCorps National Service Network