CASA of Hampden County

Since 1977, Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) have been speaking up for kids who can’t. CASA of Hampden County advocates for local children being placed in foster care or searching for permanent homes.

REGISTER FOR AN UPCOMING VOLUNTEER INFORMATION SESSION BELOW!

We Give Kids a Voice In The Courtroom

Thousands of abused and neglected children end up in the court system without a caring adult by their side.

Appointed by judges, CASA volunteers advocate for children who’ve been removed from their homes due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment.

CASA of Hampden County, founded by Judge Rebekah Crampton-Kamukala in 1989, protects vulnerable children like these throughout Springfield and Holyoke.

CASAs share critical information with judges that they may not otherwise see such as educational, medical, and therapy records. They meet with other adults involved in the case and make recommendations that protect the child’s mental and physical well-being.

In many cases, a CASA is the only consistent adult presence in a foster child’s life.

CASA-supported kids are more likely to find a safe, permanent home and succeed in school. They’re also half as likely to re-enter the foster care system.

Would you like to be a Court Appointed Special Advocate and make a difference in the life of a child? The first step in joining CASA’s Pre-Service Training begins by attending an Information Session.  Please register for one of the dates below and add it to your calendar.  We’ll send you a reminder closer to the date, but if you have questions before then, please email Advocate Supervisor Lindsay Osborn at [email protected]

 

“I look forward to the opportunity to serve our community as an advocate for children. I have children myself, and the thought of not having a stable environment for them to grow up in is heartbreaking, so that’s why I got involved in this program.”

– Sara Tung, pictured with First Justice David Paradis

Interested in learning more about CASA?

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CASA of Hampden County

Please see the contact information below to learn more about CASA.

 

Volunteer Information Sessions

Interested in volunteering to help a child?

CASA is seeking new volunteers to serve as advocates for children in need in the community. Program staff will host virtual informational sessions to help prospective volunteers learn more about the role in advance of the program’s next round of training.

 

Join a dedicated group of volunteers on behalf of kids in need!


Volunteers in the program (pictured), also known as “CASAs,” advocate for children who have protective cases in Hampden County Juvenile Court due to abuse or neglect and ensure they can be safe, live in a permanent home, and have the opportunity to thrive.

CASA Wednesday, February 28 Virtual Information Session
7:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Register

CASA Wednesday, March 6 Virtual Information Session
7:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Register

CASA Wednesday, March 20 Virtual Information Session
7:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Register

CASA Wednesday, March 27 Virtual Information Session
7:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Register

Get Involved

Volunteer to be an Advocate for CASA of Hampden County

CASA volunteers are assigned to a child by a judge at Springfield or Holyoke Juvenile Courts. CASA volunteers conduct thorough research into the background of the case, review documents and interview everyone involved, including the child as appropriate. They submit written reports to the court, recommending what they believe is best for the child, providing the judge with the information to make an informed decision.

Donate to CASA of Hampden Country

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Hampden County trains community volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children in the court system. Your donations are tax deductible and will be used for recruitment of new volunteers and emergency support to the children we work with.

Volunteer Stories

See how local volunteers give of their time and talents to make so many programs possible.

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