Court Appointed Special Advocates of Orange County
PROGRAMS
CASA Kinect
The CASA Kinect Program was created to identify and engage family members in the lives of CASA youth in the foster care system. Our program focuses on youth who have few or no relationships with their extended family members. There is compelling evidence that children who have connections to their family and other relations have improved behavior, improved school performance, healthier relationships, that they will extend to their future families and more hopefulness in their lives. Our goal is to provide permanency by connecting these youth with as many healthy and appropriate family members – relatives and non-relatives – as possible.
89% have a permanent family connection and 10-12% are adopted by family members they had lost contact with.
Mentor-Advocate Program
CASA remains focused on serving our at-risk youth through the Mentor-Advocate Program. Each Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer completes 30-hours of court-mandated training, undergoes an extensive background check and makes a two year commitment to spend 10-15 hours per month with their assigned child. Advocacy areas include education, mental health, and independent living skills development.
The outcomes of CASA OC’s advocacy are profound. In California, only 64% of youth in foster care will graduate high school. Yet, youth with a CASA in Orange County beat those formidable odds with a graduation rate of 96%. CASA supported youth are more likely to access mental and physical health care, remain in stable placements, build independent living skills, and avoid homelessness and incarceration. CASA OC’s proven model strengthens protective factors and addresses the social determinants of health, giving each youth the tools and relationships they need to transition successfully into adulthood. Additionally, children with a CASA volunteer are substantially less likely to spend time in long-term foster care and are less likely to re-enter the system.
CONTACT
Court Appointed Special Advocates of Orange County
765 The City Drive South
Suite 300
Orange, CA 92868
Rachel Montanye
Phone: 714-619-5149