Every Child Deserves Someone In Their Corner.
Knox County CASA advocates for children who have experienced abuse or neglect by ensuring they have a safe, permanent, and nurturing home.
Advocate
CASA volunteers speak up for a child’s best interests in court, school, and everyday life.
Support
We provide children with a consistent, caring adult during times of uncertainty and change.
Empower
CASA helps children find safe, permanent homes and brighter futures through dedicated advocacy.
What we do
Change A Child's Story
When a child enters the court system, their world can feel uncertain and overwhelming. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) are trained volunteers who stand beside children during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. We speak up for their best interests, provide consistent support, and help make sure their voices are heard. Together, we can change a child’s story — one child, one advocate, one future at a time.
Our Impact
The Impact of Advocacy
Behind every case is a child who deserves to feel safe, supported, and valued. Through the dedication of our volunteers and community partners, Knox County CASA continues to make meaningful impact across our community.
A Child Is Waiting for Someone Like You.
Become a CASA volunteer and provide the consistent support, advocacy, and encouragement a child needs to feel safe, seen, and supported.
the problem
- Child welfare systems are in a state of crisis, partly due to a devastating opioid epidemic.
- More than 370,000 children are in foster care on any given day.
- The average child in foster care spends more than a year in care.
the solution
- Volunteer advocates are screened, trained and supported by CASA/GAL program staff.
- CASA/GAL volunteers form a one-on-one relationship with a child and get a full picture of the case.
- Judges depend on CASA/GAL volunteers for critical information to help them make the most well-informed decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. CASA volunteers are trained community members appointed by a judge to advocate for the best interests of children who have experienced abuse or neglect.
CASA volunteers build relationships with children, gather information from everyone involved in the child’s life, and provide recommendations to the court to help ensure the child has a safe and permanent home.
CASA volunteers come from all walks of life. Volunteers must be at least 21 years old, complete training, pass background checks, and have a heart for helping children.
Most CASA volunteers dedicate approximately 10–15 hours per month to their assigned case, including visits, communication, and court-related activities.
No. CASA provides all necessary training and ongoing support. No legal or social work background is required.
It’s not easy to be a CASA volunteer. It can be time consuming, frustrating and at times, and heartbreaking. But, at other times, it is incredibly rewarding. It is rewarding when you realize that without you, the judge wouldn’t have known a key piece of information that impacted his/her decision; or the child wouldn’t have received desperately needed therapy or services without your input; or that a parent wouldn’t have received needed resources that helped them create a safe and stable home for the child. Moments like these make it all worthwhile.
CASA volunteers can specify the age and gender preferences of the children they would like to work with.* Volunteers are assigned one child or a set of siblings at a time so they can focus on giving them the individualized advocacy and attention they need.
*Please keep in mind that these requests cannot always be accommodated.
CASA volunteers are appointed to children who have come to the attention of the juvenile court system due to abuse or neglect. Like a mentoring program, the CASA volunteer does develop a relationship with the child through frequent contact; however, the primary role of the CASA volunteer is to gather information about the child, write reports to the court and attend court hearings. The CASA program is not a mentoring program. The CASA volunteer does not go on social outings with the child or play an active role in the child’s day-to-day life. Instead, the CASA volunteer is involved with the child and the case while the child is in foster care, to help him or her during this difficult time, to help have the best possible outcome. Once the case has ended, the CASA volunteer does not typically remain involved in the child’s life.
Volunteers typically stay with a case until it is resolved in court, which usually lasts a year, but could go on longer if the children cannot be reunified with their parents.
Children are referred to CASA through the court system in cases involving abuse or neglect.
No. CASA is an organization that works in partnership with the court system and child welfare professionals.
Absolutely. CASA programs rely on donations, community partnerships, event support, and awareness efforts to continue serving children in need.
You can apply online, attend an information session, or contact our team to learn more about becoming a CASA volunteer or supporting our mission.