ABOUT CASA
Our purpose is to help children find a safe, permanent home.
OUR MISSION
OUR VISION
The mission of CASA of Southwest Oklahoma, Inc. is to provide specially selected and trained community volunteers to advocate for the best interest of abused and neglected children so they may find safe, loving and permanent homes.
Every abused and neglected child has a CASA volunteer appointed to represent his/her best interests.
When abused or neglected children enter into the juvenile court and foster care system, they do it virtually alone. In 1977, a Judge in Seattle, Washington, noticed that when he looked out over all the people presenting information to him when he heard a case of an abused child, one critical voice was missing. There was no one there whose sole focus was the best interests of the child. In times of fiscal constraints and agency politics, who better to get that information from than a trained community volunteer? Hence the birth of the CASA movement.
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) are community volunteers who represents the best interests of abused and neglected children who are wards of the juvenile court. After being screened and trained, a CASA is appointed to a child or sibling group. Through his or her court order, the CASA researches the case, talks to the child and involved parties and professionals, advocates for needed services and timely decisions, and submits written recommendations to the court.
CASA of Southwest Oklahoma serves children of Comanche, Jefferson, Jackson, Stephens, Cotton, Greer and Tillman Counties. Find out more on how you can volunteer, just click here.
88 children
served in FY2019
43 volunteers
in FY2019
OUR VALUES
"The CASA seems to be a good constant figure in the child's life which is great for the child's mental health, but they really provide information I don't already know.”
Oklahoma Judge, 2019 Survey
Adaptability
We embrace the challenge of ongoing change; in the environment, in the demands and expectations placed on us, and in the needs of the children we serve. We strive to adapt our thinking and behavior in order to best respond to new conditions and circumstances as they arise.
Collaboration
We acknowledge that CASA of Southwest Oklahoma, Inc. is part of a greater network and that success in meeting our mission comes from unity and working collaboratively with the board of directors, National CASA, the Oklahoma CASA Association, local programs, and external stakeholders.
Integrity
We strive to uphold ethical principles through honesty, transparency, and fairness. We address problems that arise directly with one another, express appreciation, and celebrate the successes of those we work with and serve. We advocate for the success of others and continually strive to improve.
Respect
We respect our differences and embrace diversity in its many forms. We strive to be inclusive, welcoming, and to assume the best in those we work with.
Quality
We pursue excellence in all we do, and strive for continual growth and development. We support volunteers and staff in their growth and development as they provide advocacy for abused and neglected children.
Service
We respond to the needs of the children and families we serve and strive to create innovative solutions. We contribute to the larger child welfare network and other providers of support services whenever possible. We respond to requests from stakeholders, court- and service-related parties, and contributors, and support one another as we work to fulfill our mission.
Stewardship
We are faithful to our mission and values, doing what is best for the organization and the children we serve. We endeavor to help ensure quality and long term sustainability. CASA of Southwest Oklahoma, Inc. holds paramount the strategic and responsible management of the resources with which we have been entrusted.
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© 2020 Oklahoma CASA
CASA of Southwest Oklahoma complies with applicable Federal Civil Rights Laws and does not discriminate based on race, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, military service or lack of military service, religious affiliations or belief, or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.