Amarillo Area CASA

Ethan doesn’t know who to trust anymore.

He’s 10 years old and has already lived in four different homes this year. Every time he starts to unpack his suitcase, he’s told it’s time to move again. He misses his little brother, he hasn’t seen him in months and he’s scared that no one is fighting to bring them back together. 

But there’s hope.

When a trained CASA volunteer steps into Ethan's life, everything changes. For the first time, there’s someone who listens, someone who speaks up for him in court and makes sure his voice is heard.

Will you make sure a child like Ethan doesn’t face foster care alone?

Your gift to Amarillo Area CASA ensures that children in foster care across the Texas Panhandle have a trusted adult by their side through every move, every court date, and every decision that shapes their future.

Because of you:

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  A child will have a consistent, caring advocate fighting for their best interest.

  
  


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  Families will have a better chance at safe reunification when possible.

  
  


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  Judges and caseworkers will have the vital information they need to make life-changing decisions.

  
  

Last year alone, CASA volunteers in the Panhandle spent over 3,800 hours advocating for 216 children, children who deserve stability, safety, and hope. Yet more than 200 children still wait for someone to stand up for them.

Your support during The Panhandle Gives helps recruit, train, and support more volunteers so no child has to go through foster care without a voice.

With your help, Ethan can find permanency, healing, and hope.

With your help, every child can have a CASA.

With deep gratitude,

The Amarillo Area CASA Board and Staff

Who We Are

AACASA advocates for children of abuse and neglect through the efforts of trained volunteers, appointed by the court to ensure them a safe, nurturing and permanent environment.

CASA believes that every child who's been abused or neglected deserves to have a dedicated advocate speaking up for their best interest in court, at school and in our community. As the state steps in to protect the welfare of the child, the judge appoints a CASA volunteer to make independent, unbiased, and informed recommendations to help the judge decide the best interest of the child.

Our Advocates
Volunteers are teachers, business people, retirees, stay-at-home moms, grandparents, college students; extraordinary people who want to make certain the voices of abused children are heard. Being a CASA does not require a specialized degree or legal experience.

Advocate's Role
They are investigators. Depending on the case, a volunteer may be asked to investigate the lifestyle and history of child whose parents or guardians seek to maintain parental rights. They will talk to the child, their siblings, teachers, friends, neighbors, close relatives, the police and other related individuals who could shed light on a child’s home life and behavior. They will meet with CPS caseworkers and share information to aid in the development of a plan for family reunification.

They act as monitors. A CASA volunteer will monitor the progress of the court case, and how well a child is doing in their temporary placement, whether it be a foster home, group home residential treatment center, or relative placement. A CASA is notified and present for all hearings and CPS case reviews

They advocate for the child. CASA volunteers can sometimes seek out or recommend suitable placement. CASA volunteers have actually found relatives willing to take children when there seemed to be no hope left. Volunteers work to help serve the immediate needs of their children. They can help children receive tutoring when they feel they have fallen behind in their schooling. They also make sure the child attends scheduled counseling and/or medical appointments. If a child is available for adoption, a CASA volunteer will try to learn all about the prospective adoptive families to ensure safe, permanent placement.