Our Program
Program Purpose
The mission of Lee County CASA is to provide carefully screened, trained, and supervised volunteers to advocate for the best interests of children in dependency proceedings resulting in a safe and permanent home where the child can not only survive, but THRIVE.
CASA is here because of a national crisis in which the basic rights and needs of our most vulnerable citizens – our children – are being violated because the very system that is supposed to be looking out for them simply does not have the resources to do so.
Become A CASA
Contact Aubree Walsh at awalsh@twincedars.org for more information about becoming a CASA.
What We Do
Lee County CASA volunteers are appointed by Judges to advocate for abused and neglected children from birth to age 19 in Lee County by providing them a voice in court proceedings. The goal is to ensure that they don’t get lost in the overburdened social service system or languish in inappropriate and temporary foster and group homes. CASA volunteers are specially trained and remain on each case until it is closed and the child is placed in a safe, permanent home. For many of our children, their CASA is the only constant adult in their lives.
What is a CASA?
A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is defined as a community volunteer who:
- Has been screened and trained regarding child abuse and neglect, child development, and juvenile proceedings
- Has met all the requirements of an affiliate CASA program
- Is being actively supervised by an affiliate CASA
- Has been sworn in by a judge of the juvenile court /circuit in which they serve
Our History
Lee County CASA
Lee County CASA was developed as an unduplicated service in 2010 due to the strong desire of both judicial candidates for Lee County Family Court to establish a CASA program in their community. Lee County CASA opened our doors in January of 2011 and began taking cases in September of 2011.
National CASA
Please visit http://www.casaforchildren.org to learn more about the history of the National CASA organization.
Accreditation
We are a member in good standing with the National CASA Association and the Alabama CASA Association. As part of Twin Cedars, Lee County CASA is accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA).
Our Goals
The CASA program has two primary goals:
1. To advocate for the health, education, and medical needs of children in foster care and help them achieve permanency
2. To recruit, train, and swear-in a sufficient number of quality volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children in juvenile court proceedings
Gallery
Learn More About Lee County Casa
Referrals & Donations
Referrals
Referrals are accepted through the following parties:
- Family Court Judge
- Any attorney assigned to the case may make a request to the Judge
- DHR personnel may make a request to the Judge
- Any person who is concerned about a child in a dependency proceeding can make a request to the Judge
Donations
Contact Info & More
Physical/Mailing Address
Lee County CASA
202 N. 26th Street
Opelika, AL 36801
Phone
334-703-4066
Primary Contact
Aubree Walsh: awalsh@twincedars.org
334-703-4066