CASA of Travis County Aims for Every Child’s Voice to be Heard

For children in the Austin area who experience abuse or neglect, CASA of Travis County steps in by training volunteers to advocate for the best interest of minors in the child welfare system. In 2023, the organization advocated for nearly 1,000 children with the help of approximately 600 volunteers who served as advocates for those children over the course of the year. 

Advocates assume the responsibility of making an informed recommendation to the judge of the case based on the child’s best interest, so volunteers spend, on average, 15 to 20 hours per month building a rapport with the child, while also gathering information from any sort of family CASA is able to locate, and the child’s wider network of teachers, doctors, and more.

No child is left without someone to speak for them

Erin Kozma, Senior Director of Advancement for CASA of Travis County, developed a passion for CASA as a child when her mother sat on the bench as a child welfare judge in Travis County for approximately 20 years. Kozma herself has now worked with CASA both locally and nationally on-and-off for about 10 years.

“Being able to serve all of the kids in Travis County means that no child is left without a voice,” says Kozma. “No child is left without someone to stand for them and speak for them.” 

Since June 2022, CASA of Travis County has been assigned to 100% of new cases of child abuse or neglect filed in the county, an accomplishment the organization had worked towards for more than 30 years.

“A lot of people confuse the work that CASA does with a mentorship program,” explains Kozma. “Although in some circumstances a volunteer could fill some sort of mentorship role, that is not our primary goal. Our goal is to advocate for the child’s best interests in court and the community.” 

CASA volunteers go through an interview, multiple background checks, and a 39-hour training program that includes courtroom observation before they are sworn into their roles by a judge. When a volunteer is sworn in, they will go into CASA’s case matching system, where the organization considers the volunteer’s background and the needs of the child in need to assign the best volunteer to each case. 

It only takes one adult to change a child’s life for the better

According to Harvard University’s Center on the Developing Child’s study on resilience, “The single most common factor for children who develop resilience is at least one stable and committed relationship with a supportive parent, caregiver, or other adult.” 

“It only takes one adult to change a child’s life for the better. I want to be that for a child. Don’t you?” says June Waters, a local CASA volunteer advocate. 

When deemed to be in the child’s best interest, CASA of Travis County believes it is best to keep children connected to their families. In 2023, 79% of the children whose cases CASA of Travis County helped close were reunited with family or living permanently with relatives. The organization’s local chapter has a deep history of innovation, developing and piloting programs that have now been implemented across CASA programs across the country, including the Bridge to Permanency program, which provides funding to placements to allow them to stabilize and create a safe environment for the children involved. 

“I think we can all relate to being a kid and feeling like you might be unheard or that your needs might not be met,” says Kozma. “It’s so much more impactful when these kids are experiencing the amount of trauma and instability that the kids we serve are currently going through.” 

15th Annual CASA Superhero Run

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the CASA Superhero Run, which will be held at Circuit of the Americas on September 22. The fundraising event includes a 5K, Kids Fun Run, and festival, and attendees are encouraged to participate in a costume contest. This Central Texas initiative benefits CASA programs in Travis, Williamson, Bastrop, Fayette, Lee, Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe, and Hays Counties. 

“Become a volunteer,” adds Kozma. “We always need volunteers. There are kids coming into the system every week, and we need people to step up and advocate for them.”

Learn more about how to become a volunteer advocate or donate to CASA of Travis County at casatravis.org. To participate in the upcoming Superhero Run, a simple and easy way to get involved, register at casasuperhero.squarespace.com.