GETTING STARTED
ABOUT PIEDMONT CASA
Every Child Deserves an Advocate
Since 1995, Piedmont CASA has been changing the stories of children and youth whose lives have been disrupted by abuse and neglect. Serving Virginia's 16th Judicial District, our organization recruits, trains, and supports Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers who become a consistent voice for children navigating the foster care and juvenile court systems.
When children enter foster care, they often face uncertainty, multiple placements, interrupted education, emotional trauma, and life-changing decisions that are made in court. While many professionals work hard to support children throughout the child welfare process, those individuals often have multiple responsibilities and may change throughout a case. A CASA Advocate is different. Appointed by a judge, CASA Advocates remain focused on one child and one mission: helping ensure that every decision made is in that child's best interests.
CASA Advocates build trusted relationships with the children they serve while working collaboratively with social workers, foster parents, biological families, teachers, healthcare providers, therapists, and attorneys. They gather information, monitor each child's progress, and provide objective recommendations that help the court make informed decisions regarding safety, permanency, education, healthcare, and overall well-being.
Piedmont CASA serves children and youth throughout the City of Charlottesville, and the counties of Albemarle, Culpeper, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, and Madison.
In addition to our CASA program, we offer Bridges to Success, which helps young adults successfully transition from foster care into independent adulthood.
Everything we do is rooted in the belief that every child deserves to feel safe, heard, valued, and supported. Through dedicated volunteers, experienced staff, and strong community partnerships, Piedmont CASA works to help children build brighter futures while strengthening families and creating healthier communities.
When children enter foster care, they often face uncertainty, multiple placements, interrupted education, emotional trauma, and life-changing decisions that are made in court. While many professionals work hard to support children throughout the child welfare process, those individuals often have multiple responsibilities and may change throughout a case. A CASA Advocate is different. Appointed by a judge, CASA Advocates remain focused on one child and one mission: helping ensure that every decision made is in that child's best interests.
CASA Advocates build trusted relationships with the children they serve while working collaboratively with social workers, foster parents, biological families, teachers, healthcare providers, therapists, and attorneys. They gather information, monitor each child's progress, and provide objective recommendations that help the court make informed decisions regarding safety, permanency, education, healthcare, and overall well-being.
Piedmont CASA serves children and youth throughout the City of Charlottesville, and the counties of Albemarle, Culpeper, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, and Madison.
In addition to our CASA program, we offer Bridges to Success, which helps young adults successfully transition from foster care into independent adulthood.
Everything we do is rooted in the belief that every child deserves to feel safe, heard, valued, and supported. Through dedicated volunteers, experienced staff, and strong community partnerships, Piedmont CASA works to help children build brighter futures while strengthening families and creating healthier communities.
Our Mission
Piedmont CASA provides best-interest advocacy for children in the courts of the 16th Judicial District of Virginia. We strive to make sure that every child experiencing possible abuse and/or neglect is safe, has a permanent home, and has the opportunity to thrive.
Our Vision and Values
To create a community where every child is able to thrive in a safe, healthy, and loving home, and all families and children are treated equitably.
CASA Volunteers and Staff work alongside youth, families, and teams with compassion, integrity, and consistency to advocate for the best interests of the child. In our advocacy, we work to promote and implement equitable, culturally competent, and trauma-informed practices.
CASA Volunteers and Staff work alongside youth, families, and teams with compassion, integrity, and consistency to advocate for the best interests of the child. In our advocacy, we work to promote and implement equitable, culturally competent, and trauma-informed practices.
- Best Interests of the Child
• We put the best interests of children first
• We focus on finding appropriate services that create safety and healthy connections - Compassion
• We recognize the barriers that families face and respond with compassion
• We identify family’s and children’s strengths so we can advocate for solutions that help overcome obstacles - Integrity and Diligence
• We are committed to being responsive, honest, fair, and humane
• We provide factual court reports that tell a child’s full story and provide a place for children to share their voice
• We are committed to being active participants on behalf of a child for the life of their case –seeing a child regularly, gathering relevant information, and relaying this information to the court - Cultural Competency and Equity
• We respect and celebrate diversity in all its forms. We listen. We learn. We are willing to change and push for change
• We believe that the safety and well-being of children can only be assured when equity and justice are pillars of our advocacy - Trauma-informed
• We recognize the impact of trauma and the importance of fostering resilience
• We attempt to lessen the effects of traumatic experiences by advocating for children
Why CASA Matters
Children who experience abuse or neglect often face challenges that extend far beyond the courtroom. They may move between multiple foster homes, change schools several times, lose connections with friends and family members, and struggle with the emotional impact of trauma. During this time, they need someone whose only responsibility is to advocate for their best interests.
That's exactly what a CASA Advocate provides.
CASA Advocates frequently remain involved from beginning to end. They provide consistency during uncertain times, helping children feel seen, heard, and supported while ensuring their needs are not overlooked.
Research has shown that children with CASA Advocates are more likely to find safe, permanent homes, receive needed healthcare and educational services, experience fewer foster care placements, and spend less time in foster care. Every child deserves someone committed to helping them reach those positive outcomes.
That's exactly what a CASA Advocate provides.
CASA Advocates frequently remain involved from beginning to end. They provide consistency during uncertain times, helping children feel seen, heard, and supported while ensuring their needs are not overlooked.
Research has shown that children with CASA Advocates are more likely to find safe, permanent homes, receive needed healthcare and educational services, experience fewer foster care placements, and spend less time in foster care. Every child deserves someone committed to helping them reach those positive outcomes.
Every Child Deserves Someone in Their Corner.
