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CASAs make a huge IMPACT. Every day.

Family court judges rely on CASAs to help them make well-informed decisions on behalf of children in the foster system.

CASA’s impact on behalf of vulnerable children

Nationwide, the case for Court Appointed Special Advocates is strongly supported and the impact of these volunteers is well-documented. Multiple nationwide studies reveal that over 93% of judges report a very positive experience with CASAs and the overwhelming majority (92.2%) cite the most pronounced impact of CASA volunteers is in promoting long-term well-being. Results of these studies also reveal critical benefits for those children with a CASA to advocate for him or her in the child welfare system over those who do not.

Local impact: CASA of Bergen County

The human and financial resources behind CASA of Bergen County (Bergen CASA) help turn around over a hundred young lives every year. Our impact is seen every day, in the thousands of hours our advocates donate to their cases. Our non-profit organization supports the continued growth and development of a nationwide network of CASA programs that recruit, train, and support volunteers.

So far this year our well-being surveys show:

  • Early Development & Education Success: Children’s average scores improved from 78% to 80%
  • Health Improvements: Health scores rose from 86% to 88%
  • Placement & Permanency Gains: Advocates improved the stability needed to boost scores from 71% to 74%
  • Transitioning to Adulthood: Support in this critical stage increased scores from 72% to 74%.

In fiscal year 2025:

  • Bergen CASA served 125 children
  • 14 volunteers received in-depth advocate pre-service training
  • 83 advocates donated 5,670.5 hours to their cases
  • Of the cases that closed, over 70% of the children were placed in permanent homes
  • Over 93% of recommendations made by a Bergen CASA in court reports were accepted by the courts
  • Every child we serve received a special holiday and birthday gift from their wish list
  • Since the onset of the pandemic, every eligible foster child from Bergen County towns was assigned an advocate
  • On average, child well-being in all domains (health, placement and permanency, and the transition to adulthood) improves while working with a CASA volunteer*

*from analysis of our biannual well being surveys

Nationally, a child with a CASA:

  • Has significantly fewer placements than a child without a CASA
  • Is 50% less likely to reenter the child welfare system
  • Has more services ordered on his/her behalf
  • Is more likely to achieve permanency
  •  Is more likely to have better outcomes academically and behaviorally
THE NATIONAL STUDY REPORT