Michigan Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)

Mission: To change the lives of abused and neglected children by advocating for their best interests through establishing, supporting, and expanding quality CASA programs throughout the state of Michigan to ensure every child that needs a volunteer, has one.

Michigan CASA is a nonprofit organization which establishes and supports the 30 affiliate programs across the state that recruit, screen, train, and supervise CASA volunteers. Michigan CASA is committed to maintaining a network of well-administered, affiliate programs that operate independently with mutual accountability, resulting in the highest level of advocacy for all of Michigan’s abused and neglected children.

Michigan CASA identifies, disperses, and manages federal and state funds, helping local CASA programs effectively utilize these resources to achieve their missions while ensuring compliance with CASA Standards, court mandates, and state and federal laws. Michigan CASA also leads statewide awareness campaigns to inspire people to become Court Appointed Special Advocates for children in the foster care system. It provides vital education and resources, including programming on anti-child trafficking, trauma-informed care, and volunteer recruitment. Additionally, Michigan CASA offers innovative training and support for local program leadership, collaborates with state agencies and policymakers to improve outcomes for children, and provides technical assistance, crisis communication, and fundraising support to enhance local programs’ advocacy efforts.

A Michigan Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is a specially trained community volunteer appointed by a judge to speak up for the best interests of an abused or neglected child. Bringing urgency to a child’s needs both in and out of a courtroom, CASA volunteers advocate for safety, permanence, and well-being for children through independent recommendations based on their relationship and understanding of the child.