CASA of Oklahoma County, Inc. (CASAofOKCO) serves as a voice for some of the most vulnerable children in Oklahoma County. CASAofOKCO works to diminish the challenges faced by children in foster care by recruiting, training, supervising, and retaining community volunteers who advocate for the best interests of abused or neglected children in the juvenile court system. There are approximately 11,000 children in the Oklahoma Foster care system, with a monthly average of nearly 2,000 children in Oklahoma County alone. During FY 2016, 245 CASA volunteers represented 736 children in 326 cases, or approximately one-third of the children in care in Oklahoma County.

In accordance with current statutes, CASAofOKCO is the only program in Oklahoma County authorized and appointed by the judge to advocate for abused and neglected children in court through community volunteers. CASAofOKCO’s volunteer advocates serve as the ‘eyes and ears ‘of the court. CASA volunteers act as investigators, monitors, mentors, advocates, friends, and often case manager for the child(ren). Volunteers make independent, unbiased, and informed recommendations and ensures that the judge has information he/she needs to make some of the most difficult decisions about the children.