Henrico County Court Appointed Special Advocates

Child Abuse and Neglect:Henrico CASA remains the sole court advocacy program in Henrico County serving children facing abuse or neglect, offering services at no charge to families. CASA Advocates remain with their assigned children through the entire duration of their court process, prioritizing safe and stable placements, and the prevention of further harm. Key achievements include: 30 years of advocacy for children in Henrico County; 388 children were assigned an advocate in the fiscal year; 99% of children experienced no further abuse with an assigned advocate; and a 100% service rate for more than 4300 child victims referred to CASA since 1994.

Reporting:Each Advocate's efforts culminate in a detailed report to the judges in Henrico Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, providing a comprehensive case history, factual findings, and recommendations for child placement and family stabilization. Report highlights include: 109 advocates submitted 372 court reports; 97% of CASA recommendations were accepted and incorporated into court orders; and 98% of cases closed with children placed in safe, stable homes.

Volunteer Advocates: CASA Advocates serve children from infancy to eighteen years old, giving voice to hundreds who might otherwise be unheard. Advocates complete 40 hours of in-person training and conduct thorough, independent evaluations of each child's safety and well-being in their cases. Notable contributions: 109 active advocates assigned to cases; 2058 hours of additional advocate training completed throughout the past year; 10591 hours dedicated, including 21,019 contacts with families and professionals; resulting in an estimated taxpayer savings of $345,161 in Henrico County.