CASA, Inc.'s mission is to provide trained community volunteers to advocate for the best interests of children who come to the attention of juvenile court primarily as a result of abuse and/or neglect. For more than 30 years, CASA Nashville has improved children's lives by providing a crucial resource of trained Court Appointed Special Advocates who speak exclusively for children.

CASA Nashville was incorporated in 1984 and founded by a steering committee from the National Council on Jewish Women, Nashville Section and the Junior League of Nashville. It is a replication of the first CASA program started in 1977 by a Seattle judge. The Nashville program was the first in Tennessee and is one of nearly 1,000 nationwide programs. It is the only organization authorized by the State of Tennessee (TCA 37-1-149) to provide advocacy service and works on behalf of and in partnership with the juvenile courts and the Department of Human Services.

Who do we serve and what do we do?

CASA serves some of the most vulnerable children in our community. Through no fault of their own, they are abused, abandoned or otherwise neglected by the people who are supposed to love them the most. These are children and youth from birth to age 18 who have a case pending in Juvenile Court to determine the safest, most permanent place for them to live.

The court appoints one of our trained volunteer advocates to get to know the child, research the case and submit a fact-based written court report outlining the services the child needs and a recommendation regarding the safest placement. The volunteer's priority is the child's best interest.

While our ultimate hope is that no child will need us, there are presently about 2,000 children with cases pending in Davidson County alone; CASA is only able to serve 30% of them. Imagine the immediate and long term impact on children, families and the community if CASA had enough volunteers to assign all cases a CASA advocate. That is our goal. With your help, we can reach it.

We want all of Nashville to join in and celebrate our staff, board members, donors, founders, and supporters for the past 30 years.  For without their support and guidance, so many child victims wouldn't have had a CASA volunteer.  Wouldn't have had a voice in court.  Wouldn't have had hope.