TESTIMONIALS

"CASA's are our community partners in making children's lives better. CASA's help us do what we do better."

Gail Jackson Wolfe, OCS District Supervisor


"Looking into my CASA child's eyes and knowing they know I care is the greatest reward for being a CASA. It saddens me to think of a child not knowing their self worth and potential; being a CASA gives me the oppurtunity to make that change."

Barbara Carson, CASA volunteer

" I know that you are a phone call away and that you truly want to protect me, but even that is sometimes hard to accept, someone who cares about me everyday, someone I can trust!"

RH, CASA child statement to CASA volunteer

"Someday, I wonder if I am really making a difference in my CASA child's life. Then, I round the corner and see him running toward me with his arms extended yelling 'My CASA, My CASA'. I know I'm making a difference."
Jeri Thompson, CASA volunteer

"It is good to be able to have a child's point of view brought to the court by a CASA volunteer, void of political, statistical, or punitive baggage, in a pure,honest, and objective manner."
The Honorable Randall Bethancourt
District Court Judge, Division E
32nd Judicial District Court

Why I became a CASA volunteer?
"More than anything in the world, I wanted to be a mom when I grew up. I was fortunate enough to be blessed with two great daughters and I am so grateful. When I was much younger I realized that not all parents wanted to be parents, not all parents understand the role of a good loving parent. This was such a shock to me. How could a parent not cherish and love a child?  Then I began to think how a child would feel in that situation. How sad it would be to not be loved, nurtured and guided by someone who has your best interest at heart even when the decisions that need to be made are not the easiest ones. Being a CASA is filling that role that these children are missing. Our CASA children all have a missing link in their lives. They all need that one person that will stand up for them when no one else will; they all need someone to fight for them even when it’s not easy. Children are blessings from God, little gifts that make us realize the true value of life. The world can be a cruel and unjust place to live. Our judicial system can seem unfair and the foster care system still needs improvement. CASA can be the balance between all these systems that are working to benefit the masses and not always focusing on our children. Our one goal is to be there for the child, to fight for the best interest of that child against all the other forces that seem to be against them. I wanted to make a difference in one child’s life. The difference has really been made in my life because of them. Along the way, my own daughters have learned valuable lessons about life and how fortunate they are. I have been blessed and received so many rewards being a part of my CASA children’s lives. They have taught me so much and our relationships have just begun!"
CASA Volunteer , Terrebonne Parish

As of January 2010 - 5,333 children are in Foster Care in Louisiana