Heartland Court Appointed Special Advocates
Diana Meyer, Executive Director

410 West 2nd Street
Grand Island, NE 68801
308-385-5125
Email: casa@ksdi.net
Web Site: www.nebraskacasa.org
Joined Heartland United Way in 1995

Heartland Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) believes in providing volunteer advocates for abused and neglected children. Heartland CASA supports abused and neglected children in the court system through recruiting and training informed, caring volunteers who speak for these children.

What Can You Do?
Only 1 out of 4 abused and neglected children currently have someone speaking up for their best interests. You can offer your skills and time with CASA – one of the most challenging and rewarding volunteer opportunities you can find.

CASA volunteers work with attorneys and social workers. They review records, research information and talk to everyone involved – parents, teachers, family members and of course, the child. From this information they present a recommendation to the judge as to what is best for this child.

CASA’s goal is to serve in the best interest of the child. This may be to reunite the child with the family or to free the child for adoption.

What Does it Take?
• Commitment to children
• Objectivity
• Responsibility
• Communication skills
• The ability to talk with different kinds of people, some of whom may be wrestling with difficult problems
• About 6-10 hours a month

No special experience is required. CASA volunteers come from all cultures, ethnicities, professions and educational backgrounds. Once accepted, volunteers are trained in courtroom procedure, social services, the juvenile justice system and the special needs of children who have been abused and neglected.

Contact Heartland CASA to find out more information on the CASA program and how you can get involved.

YOU HAVE THE POWER TO PROTECT A CHILD