CASA of Santa Cruz County advocates for children and youth, providing court appointed volunteers so each child in the dependency and juvenile court system feels cared for and connected with the people, families, and resources they need to heal and flourish into adulthood.
CASA of Santa Cruz County provides support, advocacy, and opportunity to the most underserved youth in our community: those involved in the foster care, juvenile justice, and/or truancy court systems. We do this by matching children and youth ages 0–21 one-on-one with a trained community volunteer who provides consistent mentorship, advocacy, and emotional support. CASA Advocates are a stable, trusted presence, coordinating across education, behavioral health, child welfare, and justice systems.
CASA of Santa Cruz County is uniquely positioned to carry out this work due to deep community trust and a staff and volunteer base that reflects the populations we serve. As the only organization appointed by a judge and authorized to report directly to the court, CASA identifies unmet needs early, elevates youth voice, and advocates for solutions that support long-term well-being for our community’s most vulnerable youth.
"Sometimes all it takes is one person to change the way you see and believe in yourself. My CASA was that person for me."
Former Foster Youth, 25
