Location: First Congregational Church of San Jose
Date and Time: Saturday, April 18 2026
Population Served: Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Volunteers
Event Highlights:
On April 18, 75 Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Volunteers gathered at First Congregational Church of San Jose for our Annual CASA Summit, an event centered on connection, learning and community. As part of our 40th anniversary year, this Summit carried an even deeper sense of reflection, honoring the legacy of advocacy while looking ahead to the future of our work.
The day began with CASAs reconnecting with peers and building new relationships, creating a space filled with shared purpose and inspiration. Throughout the morning, volunteers engaged in thoughtful conversations about their roles and the impact they make in the lives of foster youth and Non-Minor Dependents (NMDs).
Shortly thereafter, Elizabeth Mower, from Applied Survey Research, grounded attendees in the true impact of their advocacy as she reviewed highlights from our FY 2025 Outcomes Report. Her message challenged CASAs to think more deeply about how we define success for the youth we serve and how we respond when progress feels uncertain. She encouraged reflection not only at the individual level, but also across the organization, prompting an important question: What more can we do to better support our CASAs so they, in turn, can better support our youth?
Following Elizabeth’s presentation, CASAs participated in creative and interactive workshops led by community partners Red Ladder Theatre Company, Art House Studio and Local Color. These sessions offered hands-on experiences designed to spark creativity, encourage self-expression, and provide tools that CASAs can bring back to their youth. The workshops also served as an exciting preview of upcoming programming at our onsite Center for foster youth, where these types of activities will soon become more accessible to the youth we serve.
In addition to hands-on learning, attendees received an early look at CASAnet, an internal website for CASAs with easily accessible resources, learning opportunities and positive childhood experience offerings. This investment reflects our commitment to equipping CASAs with the support they need to navigate their role with confidence and ease.
After all of the fun-filled activities, CASAs were invited for lunch at our new office location and participated in to tours of the new Center. CASAs were encouraged to complete The Center Survey, helping shape future onsite programming and ensuring that each year continues to meet the evolving needs of the children we serve.
We are deeply grateful to our CASAs for SHOWING UP and for continuing to do so again and again for the youth and Non-Minor Dependents they walk alongside. They are a steady presence in a time that can often feel uncertain. They are a reminder to every young person they serve that they are seen, valued and not alone.
For 40 years, this work has been rooted in compassion, commitment and the belief that every young person deserves someone in their corner. The 2026 CASA Summit honored that legacy while continuing to move this work forward together.
What our CASA Volunteers had to say about this year’s Summit:
- “Wow, I really walked away from loving this year’s Summit. It’s my first one that I’ve ever attended, but what I got from this summit was so inspiring and also really impactful for me to understand how these resources can definitely help our relationships with our youth. I have a 15-year-old and a 10-year-old and I feel like I found something for both of them that they could definitely be a part of down the road.”
- “It’s the first time I attend the summit and I really enjoyed it. I found it enriching and educational.”
- “It was one of the best I ever attended. Real fun and informative. I loved it. Time well spent.”
- “So much fun! The Child Advocates management team puts on meaningful and enjoyable events.”
If you would like to learn about becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate, click below for more information.