We believe every child should be supported and inspired to live their best life.
MISSION:
To be there for every foster child in Silicon Valley who has experienced abuse, neglect and/or abandonment.
VISION:
A Silicon Valley where every foster child has the nurturing support and resources needed to thrive.
Child Advocates of Silicon Valley
is an independent nonprofit 501 (c) 3 organization founded in 1986. We serve children aged birth to 21 years old who are placed in the Santa Clara County Dependency Court System (commonly referred to as foster care) for having experienced trauma in the form of abuse, neglect and/or abandonment. We serve children in foster care by:
- ensuring every child has a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Volunteer;
- building enduring community partnerships to broaden and strengthen our impact;
- influencing local policies and decisions that affect the children we serve.
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.
About the Court Appointed Special Advocates (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 18 months or until the case is closed. 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. Learn more about our CASA Program.
About the Children We Serve
We serve children aged birth to 21 years old, who have been placed in the Santa Clara County Dependency Court System for having experienced abuse, neglect and/or abandonment.
Our children are some of the most vulnerable in Silicon Valley.
Roughly half of all foster children experience four or more Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, ACES are potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood such as experiencing violence, abuse, and/or neglect. ACEs have been linked to risky behaviors, chronic health conditions, low life potential and early death.
We recruit, train and support CASA Volunteers to ensure every foster child in the Santa Clara County foster care system has a mentor and advocate to help them navigate the system and a voice reporting directly to the Court. Become an Advocate Volunteer.
Having a CASA Volunteer is the intervention a foster child needs to reduce the impacts of having experienced trauma.