COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES OF KERN COUNTY
Change a Child's Story
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
CASA of Kern County aims to assist the juvenile court judge in effectively supporting abused and neglected children in the foster care system. Through the use of highly trained volunteers and our comprehensive one-on-one advocacy program, we strive to end child abuse and find a safe, permanent home for foster children. It is crucial that children in foster care have someone ensuring their needs are met and that our courts have someone they trust who can alert them if a child is in danger or has critical needs. With that in mind, our mission and the advocacy and support provided by our volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) are more important than ever.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Family Connections
Our goal is to connect foster children with as many appropriate family members as possible and to ultimately gain permanent life connections. There is compelling evidence showing that children who have some connection with members of their birth family have improved behavior, improved school performance, and more hopefulness in their lives.
CASA Mental Health Advocacy
Mental Health Advocates take on a short-term (45 day) assignment where they can advocate for a child by mining their court files and documenting their mental health concerns and any trauma the child has endured. The documentation is then compiled into a report by the Mental Health Advocate Supervisor and provided to the proper professionals. This work ensures the children get appropriate mental health treatment.
CASA of Kern County Advocacy Program
CASA of Kern County's goal is to protect and insure each child's right to a safe, permanent home. These children have come into the Juvenile Dependency court system as the victims of abuse, neglect and/or abandonment. Their caretakers have been unable to keep them safe, so social services and the legal systems have entered their lives.
The CASA volunteer is a sworn officer of the court whose job is to provide the juvenile court judge or referee with an independent assessment of the circumstances of the child. The CASA's report is drawn from their evaluation of interviews they conduct with key parties in the child's life. The CASA makes recommendations for the disposition of the case based on the child's total circumstances. In addition, the CASA attends all court hearings pertaining to the child. With the support of the program staff, they represent the interest of the child in the proceedings, which are normally scheduled every six months.
Where we work
Affiliations & memberships
National CASA 1995
External reviews
Videos
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
1. Volunteerism –With the COVID-19 pandemic we are keenly aware that we must work diligently to retain current volunteers and expand recruitment for the increase in child abuse we anticipate during this recession. Part of our 2020-2023 Strategic Plan focuses on increased support of Volunteers to advocate for the best interests of children who have experienced abuse and neglect.
2. Financial Stability - Increased Foundation, Grant, and Corporate revenue. We will look at creative ways to fundraise during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
3. Mental Health Advocacy - Mental Health Advocacy leverages CASA Volunteers to increase the knowledge base of clinicians and professionals serving foster children. Specially trained CASA Volunteers thoroughly research the developmental and trauma history of each child we serve.
4. Collaboration/Partners – This coming year we will work with our community partners such as the Department of Human Services, Probation, and the Juvenile Courts to strengthen relationships to better serve our children and the community.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
1. Volunteerism- We plan to expand volunteerism with increased contact with Volunteers, monthly peer gatherings, and educating the community about child abuse and the need for additional Court Appointed Special Advocates.
2. Financial Stability- Due to the loss of revenue with our annual May fundraiser, we will incorporate a virtual fundraiser that is well planned, fun for the community to participate in and draws in new corporate donors. We will seek and apply for grants that come available especially in the areas of the best interest and well being of children.
3. Mental Health Advocacy - As the Mental Health Advocacy Program continues to improve the cohesion of stakeholders serving foster children, we are continually reassessing the need for this life-changing advocacy. In our assessment, we have found that many of our court assigned children are in need of a “re-analysis” for either newly revealed historical information or for new trauma. Retraumatization is a brutal but stark reality for children in long term foster care. We must re-assess these children every two years at a minimum.
4. Collaboration/Partners- We meet bi-monthly with the Department of Human Services and the Juvenile Courts currently, however, we want to expand that bi-monthly communication with our local Probation Department. With these collaborative partners, we will discuss and implement ways to proficiently integrate services provided to children.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
CASA of Kern County is governed by a diligent board of directors. The staff is passionate and the highly trained volunteers give of their time and talent. In 2019 we had great success, 182 CASA volunteers advocated for 358 children and youth in the dependency system. And year after year our permanency rates remain remarkable, 87% of the 155 cases we closed last year resulted in permanency or a positive outcome for the children, this includes 75 children that were reunified with their parents.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
CASA’s current programs:
• Traditional Advocacy
• Juvenile Justice Advocacy
• Non-minor Dependent (18-21 yrs) Advocacy
• Family Connections Advocacy
• Mental Health Advocacy
• First 5 (Children 0-5) Advocacy
In 2019, 182 CASA volunteers advocated for 358 children and youth in the dependency system. We want to increase volunteers trained by 25% in three years. Increase retention by increasing active volunteers (overall by 15% in three years) and increase children served by 25% in three years.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES OF KERN COUNTY
Board of directorsas of 05/31/2022
Mr. Mike Martinez
Amazon
Term: 2021 - 2022
Mr. Matt McCourt
Country Sweet Produce
Term: 2021 - 2022
Jeff Warren
Klein Denatale Goldner
Terri Collins
Watson Realty ERA
Joyce Holtzclaw
E&B Natural Resources Management Corp.
Jennifer Natto
Outlets at Tejon
Vince Roche
Pacific Commercial Realty
Amanda Lucas
Lebeau Thelen
Bill Bila
CBIZ
Chris Towery
Towery Construction
Gabriela Gonzales
California Resources Corporation
Jefferson Eberhardt
Rodriguez and Associates
Julio Gonzalez
Citizens Bank
Ken Keller
Dignity Health
Kiyoshi Tomono
Adventist Health
Nate Wong
Daniells Phillips Vaughn and Bock
Nicole Sprague
Kaiser Permanente
Raymond McCaslin
Valley First Credit Union
Stephanie Peters
Daniells Phillips Vaughn Bock
Toni Harper
Dignity Health
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data