ABOUT CASA OF NORTHEAST TENNESSEE

MISSION
The mission of CASA of Northeast Tennessee is to recruit, train, monitor and support community based volunteers who act as Court Appointed Special Advocates. These volunteer advocates "speak up" for the best interest of abused and neglected children in the Juvenile Courts of Northeast Tennessee, striving to preserve the right of each child to have a safe, permanent home.

GOALS
  • To provide the number of dedicated and capable volunteer advocates necessary to respond to all the cases within the supported juvenile courts in which CASA involvement is requested and needed.
  • To progressively expand our financial base of support to include both increased individual donor contributions, dedicated corporate and business sponsorships, and more robust financial assistance from community omnibus charitable organizations such as United Way.
  • To achieve the measured and financially feasible expansion of CASA to adjacent court jurisdictions currently lacking and needing CASA volunteer advocacy.

AGENTS OF THE COURT
Our trained volunteers are appointed as official agents of the court. They have the task of representing the best interests of children in cases which demand the court's action on behalf of the children's welfare and placement in a caring and secure home.

CHILD ADVOCACY – TOUGH, REWARDING WORK
Volunteer advocates diligently monitor, interview and continually assess the children's care, health and well-being. Advocates report to the court, providing vital information to the presiding judge in support of the best-informed judgments on behalf of the involved children.

CURRENT EFFORTS
Since our founding in 1985, initially under the auspices of East Tennessee State University, we have emerged as an independent, nonprofit, community-based service organization. In the intervening period we have steadily grown. In 2007, we proudly served 145 children, providing advocates for 98 court cases. This work was supported by an operating budget of some $107,000.00.