CASA of the TN Heartland

As a non-profit, volunteer-based agency, our mission is to empower CASA volunteers to advocate on behalf of abused and neglected children in juvenile court. Our vision is to provide a court-appointed volunteer advocate for every child who needs one. The core purpose of CASA of the Tennessee Heartland is to provide a voice for abused and neglected children in our community.

CASA of the Tennessee Heartland, serving Anderson and Blount Counties recruits, trains supervises and supports volunteers who serve as powerful voices for the most vulnerable children in our communities. Children helped by CASA volunteers include those who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. These children may reside in a foster home, a group home, or with relatives. A CASA volunteer provides the Court with a carefully researched, fact based report (each time there is a hearing) on the child and their circumstances to help the court make a sound decision about the child's future. Each case is as unique as the child involved. The CASA volunteer makes recommendations to the Court regarding the child's permanent placement, the child's needs and wishes, and a variety of other issues. The CASA report is tailored to each child and his/her unique situation. The CASA volunteer monitors the case until it is permanently resolved. The case may take months or years. The National Core Model allows for one CASA volunteer to advocate for one case at a time. This approach ensures that each child we serve receives the care and attention they deserve but this approach also means that every child who needs a CASA does not have one. Currently in our three counties of service, we have a waiting list of over 400 children who need a CASA to advocate for them.