In an unprecedented move, the Board of Schattenbaum has chosen a charity at the start of the year. In 2008, CASA
of Cumberland County will be the recipient of our charitable giving program. And you ask - what is CASA?Â
Well, CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate.  CASA is a National organization with branches at the
local level, usually a county. CASA’s job is to train volunteers who want to make a difference in a child’s life.

A court appointed special advocate is a trained citizen who is appointed by a judge to represent the best interests
of a child in court. Children helped by CASA volunteers include those who have been removed from their home
because of abuse or neglect. A CASA volunteer provides a judge with carefully researched background on the child
to help the court make a sound decision about the child’s future. Each case is as unique as the child involved.Â
The CASA volunteer recommends if it is in the child’s best to remain in foster care, be returned to his or her
parent/guardian, or be freed for adoption. The CASA volunteer follows through on the case until it is permanently resolved.

A CASA volunteer is different from a social services caseworker.  Social workers generally are employed by state
governments.  They sometimes work on as many as 40 cases at a time and are responsible for the whole family.
A CASA volunteer has one or two cases and concentrates primarily on the children.  The CASA volunteer
does not replace the social worker on the case, rather he or she is an independent appointee of the court. In the court
system, the CASA volunteer speaks to the child’s best interests.

CASA of Cumberland County also serves Salem and Gloucester Counties.Â
If you want more information on CASA please click on the header at the top of this page.