Over 500,000 children in the United States are in the foster care system because their home environments are unsafe. In Indiana alone, there were 19,949 abuse and neglect cases filed in 2007, 440 of which were in Hancock, Henry, and Madison Counties. Currently there are 233 children waiting for a CASA volunteer
These children have suffered abuse, neglect, or other physical or sexual mistreatment, often due to one or both parents’ drug or alcohol addictions.Through no fault of their own, these children are removed from their homes and placed in foster care while their parents undergo services to address the problems in the home.Once in the system, the Court must determine whether the children can be reunified with their families or need a different permanent plan for their lives, such as adoption or guardianship.
Children in this situation are scared, confused, sad, lonely, and overwhelmed.Worse, the adults the children trust the most are not there to support them.That’s where a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) comes in.
MISSION
East Central Indiana Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) believes that every child has the right to a safe, permanent home. CASA advocates for and provides a voice in the court process for neglected, abused, and exploited children in Madison, Henry, and Hancock counties and educates the community regarding its responsibility for these children.
VISION
East Central Indiana CASA provides advocacy for children who are parties to or affected by litigation involving potential or actual abuse and/or neglect. Court-ordered CASA involvement may include, but is not limited to:
Children in Need of Services (CHINS)
Termination of parental rights
Adoption proceedings
Guardianship proceedings
Dissolution of marriage involving child custody issues
Paternity proceedings
Children of CHINS cases receive top priority. CASA serves only those children who have been court-ordered into the CASA program. In most cases, these children range from infancy to 18 years of age. However, in unique circumstances when a child has been determined to have special needs, a judge may order CASA involvement until the child is 21 years old.
East Central Indiana CASA, Inc. 800 Main Street, Ste 305, Anderson, IN 46016 Telephone (765) 649-7215, Fax (765) 649-8633, E-mail eastcentralindianacasa@yahoo.com
