Start A New CASA

Starting new CASA programs is part of what Tennessee CASA Association does, but we need the help of caring individuals to do it! Getting a new program off the ground is hard work, and requires a generous amount of time and a great amount of persistence, but is immensely rewarding. Please check our Local CASA Programs page to see if there is already a program in your county; some of our CASA programs provide services to more than one county.

If there is no program providing services in your county, then the first step is to contact the Tennessee CASA Association. Tennessee CASA is the organization responsible for helping local programs start up, and new programs must join the state CASA organization in order to be eligible to join National CASA. Before starting any CASA program we will want to determine the answers to the following crucial questions:

1.  Do the judges in the juvenile court in your county want a CASA program and will they be willing to help, within the boundaries of judicial ethics, the program obtain community support?

2.   Is there a need in the community for CASA advocates?  The primary mission of CASA is to advocate for children in foster care.  How many children are in foster care in the community?  How many cases of abuse and neglect involving the Department of Children's Services come before the juvenile court each year? 

For more information, contact Cheryl Hultman, Executive Director of Tennessee CASA toll-free at 866-498-1864 or email a request to tncasa@bellsouth.net.