May’s Spotlight Nonprofit is Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of New Hampshire. Established in 1989, CASA NH is a non-profit organization dedicated to recruiting, training, and supporting community volunteers to serve as advocates for children throughout the state who face abuse or neglect. These CASA volunteers get to know a child and the important people in that child’s life to offer vital insights that aid judges in making decisions that prioritize the child’s well-being.

CASA is focused on their Vision of a world where every child is given the opportunity to thrive in a safe, permanent and nurturing home. This Vision fuels their Mission: Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of New Hampshire provides a voice for children and youth who have experienced abuse and neglect by empowering a statewide network of trained volunteers to advocate on their behalf so they can thrive in safe, permanent homes.

In fulfilling its vision and mission, the entire CASA organization is guided by the following Values: Compassion, Integrity, Honesty, Justice, Passion, Respect, Courage, Transparency, Inclusivity and Equity.

Did you know?

• CASA volunteer advocates focus on one case at a time, dedicating approximately 10-15 hours per month to ensure judges receive comprehensive information for decisions that positively impact a child's future. While a social worker is also assigned to a child's case, a CASA is uniquely positioned as the sole adult voice advocating solely for the child's best interests.
• Judges across New Hampshire rely on the distinctive and impartial viewpoint offered by CASAs when determining a child's future. State legislation stipulates that courts must reach out to CASA as the primary contact when appointing a Guardian ad Litem for cases involving abuse or neglect. Our objective is to ensure a sufficient number of trained volunteers to match every New Hampshire child in need with a dedicated CASA.

We look forward to continuing to spotlight Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of New Hampshire throughout this month!