About CASA

There are nearly 600 children in foster care in Baltimore County each year. CASA of Baltimore County currently serves about one third of those children. We want to do more! And, with continued and increased financial assistance and volunteers, we will!

Our Mission

To provide court appointed volunteers who advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in Baltimore County.

Our Vision

A world where every abused or neglected child in Baltimore County is given the opportunity to thrive in a safe, loving, permanent home.

Our Goal

To one day serve all 650 children in Baltimore County foster care annually.

What is CASA

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History of CASA

In 1977, Seattle Superior Court Judge David Soukup was having a difficult time making crucial-life changing decisions that impacted children’s lives without enough information about the unique circumstances of each abused or neglected child that he saw in his courtroom. Given the incomplete case facts he heard from the bench, he decided to deputize a friend to do a thorough investigation of a child’s situation and get to know the child themself.

It was a novel idea, and it worked. After spreading the word, 50 citizens answered the call to become the first Court Appointed Special Advocates. Since the establishment of the first CASA program, the idea spread nationally and CASA Volunteer Advocates have advocated for millions of children.

In 1990, the U.S. Congress encouraged CASA programs' expansion with the passage of the Victims of Child Abuse Act. Today, a network of 939 state and local CASA programs operates in 49 states and the District of Columbia.

A group of Baltimore County citizens desiring to serve abused and neglected children coordinated efforts to start a local CASA program and incorporated the new nonprofit in 2000. Headed by the founding executive director, Susan Daddio, and the first board of directors, CASA of Baltimore County expanded rapidly.

Today, a staff of 13 employees supports approximately 165 volunteer advocates each year. We serve roughly one-third of the 600 abused and neglected children who are in foster care in Baltimore County.

JenniferStine-hs

A Message From the Director

CASA Volunteer Advocates help ensure that abused and neglected children reach safe, permanent, and loving homes and that they receive every needed service while in foster care. These everyday heroes make a critical difference in the lives of hundreds of Baltimore County’s most vulnerable children. Despite that success, CASA of Baltimore County is currently only serving approximately one-third of the children in foster care in Baltimore County. Contact us to learn more about the ways in which you can support CASA’s goal of providing an advocate for every child in foster care.

-Jennifer Stine, Director

Become a CASA Volunteer

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers advocate for the best interests of children who have experienced abuse or neglect. Volunteers work with families, child welfare professionals, educators, and service providers to ensure that judges have the information they need to make the most well-informed decisions for each child.

Contact Us

102 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Suite 101 Towson, MD 21204

Meet the CASA Volunteer Advocates

Meet CASA Volunteer Judy Mitchell

Judy is a retired federal government employee. With 4 grandchildren, plus a child whom she considers to be ...
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Meet CASA Volunteer Alfred Jones

When he was growing up, Alfred traveled a lot because of his father's job. He has lived in ...
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Meet CASA Volunteer Sally Salvatori

Volunteer Sally Salvatori grew up in Massachusetts before she lived here in Maryland. Sally works as a full-time ...
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Meet CASA Volunteer Natalie Sytov

Born in Russia, Natalie moved to the U.S. with her family in 1992. Natalie currently works as a ...
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