Oklahoma CASA Association

The Oklahoma CASA Association is the statewide body for 19 local Court Appointed Special Advocate programs. Their trained volunteers speak up in court for children who have experienced abuse or neglect, serving 63 of the state 77 counties.

What it offers

• Trained volunteer advocates who represent a child best interests in court
• A consistent adult presence for children moving through the foster system
• A statewide association coordinating 19 local CASA programs
• Advocacy reaching children across 63 Oklahoma counties
• Volunteer training that prepares advocates for their role

Who it is for

Children are matched with an advocate through the courts, so families do not apply directly for one. On the other side, adults who want to make a difference can apply to volunteer through a local CASA program. Volunteering suits people ready to commit time to standing beside a child during a vulnerable period, learning their story and speaking for their needs in the courtroom. Because advocates often stay with a case over time, they can become one of the few stable figures in a child life during upheaval.

Getting started

Those interested in volunteering can find and contact their local CASA program through the association website, which then guides applicants through screening and training. For a child, involvement comes by court appointment rather than family request. The association serves as the connecting point between communities and the local programs that do the day-to-day work, making it the natural place to begin for anyone who wants to help.

How it fits with the court process

CASA works within the court process rather than around it. Children are matched with a trained volunteer advocate through the courts, so families do not apply directly for one; instead, the advocate speaks for a child’s best interests during proceedings and often becomes a steady presence as a case moves along.

For adults who want to help, volunteering fits alongside that court role. A local CASA program screens and trains volunteers before they are assigned, and because advocates often stay with a case over time, they can become one of the few consistent figures in a child’s life during a period of upheaval.

Since advocates are appointed by the court, the natural way to get involved as an adult is through a local program, which the association helps people find. Volunteers should expect screening and training before a first assignment, and a commitment measured in months rather than weeks, since staying with a case is much of what makes the role valuable to a child. Because advocates are volunteers rather than paid staff, local programs welcome people from many walks of life and provide the training needed, so prior legal or social work experience is not required to help.

To restate how involvement works, children are matched with an advocate through the courts, so families do not apply directly, while adults who want to help apply to volunteer. Applying to volunteer follows a clear path: a person finds their local CASA program through the association’s website, contacts it, and then completes screening and training before an assignment. Because there are 19 local programs reaching 63 counties, the nearest one is usually within reach, and its office is the best point of contact for questions during regular business hours listed on its site. Volunteers should plan for a commitment measured in months, since staying with a case is much of what makes the role valuable.

Frequently asked questions

How does a child get a CASA advocate?

Children are appointed an advocate through the courts, so it is not something a family requests directly. The advocate then speaks for the child’s best interests.

How can I volunteer?

Find and contact your local CASA program through the association’s website, which guides applicants through screening and training before an assignment.

How many programs are there?

The statewide association coordinates 19 local CASA programs reaching 63 of Oklahoma’s 77 counties. Each program does the day-to-day work locally.

What does an advocate do?

A trained volunteer represents a child’s best interests in court and offers a consistent presence through the case. They often stay with a case over time.