FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 10, 2026
CONTACT: Gustavo Caraveo | Gustavo@childadvocatessv.org
San Jose, CA — Child Advocates of Silicon Valley proudly swore in 29 new Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Volunteers in San Jose on Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
All graduates completed 30 hours of pre-service training in a hybrid format with in-person and virtual presentations on various topics, including child development and outcomes planning. Additionally, the graduates attended a mandatory tour of the court. The training process concluded on Tuesday evening with a swearing-in ceremony by the honorable Shawna Schwarz, the supervising judge of the County of Santa Clara Dependency Court.
“After these past weeks of training, I understand why. We have learned about trauma, resilience, and the importance of truly listening,” says CASA Ananth Appathurai. “We have learned to look beyond a case file and see the child—the real person at the center of every decision. For a child in foster care, so much can change: schools, placements, routines, and the adults around them. In the middle of that uncertainty, a CASA is a steady and consistent presence.”
Child Advocates carefully tailors each class’ pre-service training to meet the evolving needs of the foster youth entering the Santa Clara County Dependency Court System, better known as foster care. The graduating class programming was enhanced by specialized training related to the lived experience of foster youth and ongoing concerns related to disproportionality in Santa Clara County’s foster care.
To better serve children currently on the waitlist for a CASA Volunteer, Child Advocates continues to prioritize diversifying its volunteer base by recruiting more male, bilingual, Spanish-speaking, and LGBTQ+ advocates. This class helps advance that goal, with three bilingual Spanish speakers, five male advocates, 12 languages represented, and three volunteers who identify as LGBTQ+.
“Through each graduation, we witness the passion and eagerness our community has to LIFTING UP our foster youth. With this class being one of our most diverse, we’re thrilled to connect our foster youth with CASA Volunteers who will advocate and understand them,” shares Child Advocates CEO Frederick J. Ferrer.
Volunteers are not required to have a particular background or experience to serve as CASA. Each CASA undergoes a thorough training process and is supported by Child Advocates staff once matched to a youth or sibling set. No matter the age of the youth, a CASA mentors, advocates, and ensures the child’s voice is heard while in foster care.
About Child Advocates of Silicon Valley
Child Advocates of Silicon Valley is an independent nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization created in 1986. We serve children aged birth to 21 years old who are placed in the Santa Clara County Dependency Court System for having experienced trauma in the form of abuse, neglect and/or abandonment. We are responsible for operating the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Program in Santa Clara County, which entails recruiting, training and supporting CASA Volunteers according to the National CASA Association standards. To learn more, please visit ChildAdvocatesSV.org.
About the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program
The first Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program in the nation was created in 1977 to ensure children in foster care, who have experienced abuse or neglect, have a trained volunteer speaking up in the courtroom for their best interests. All CASA Volunteers are trained community members who are appointed with a court order by a judge to advocate for the best interests of a child in foster care. They stay with each case for up to a year or until the case is closed and the child is in a safe, permanent home. CASA Volunteers work with legal and child welfare professionals, educators, service providers and family members to ensure the child’s voice is heard. Their advocacy enables judges to make the most well-informed decision for each child.
###