Child Advocates make a lifelong difference for abused and neglected children by serving as friends, mentors and Court Appointed Special Advocates. Co-founded in 1986 by Superior Court Judge Leonard Edwards and a community volunteer, Child Advocates of Silicon Valley is among the largest and most innovative Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) organizations nationwide. By matching trained community volunteers (Advocates) with dependent children, we ensure that the needs and best interests of foster children in our program are met.
Our mission is to provide stability and hope to abused and neglected children by being a powerful voice in their lives. Children and youth in foster care need what all children need to thrive and grow into healthy adults:
a safe and permanent home
the care and support of loving adults
a connection to their community
Our Advocates play a special role in the lives of children placed in foster care. Advocates spend time with children as a friend and mentor; they assist them in accessing needed resources; they follow their progress at school; they help connect them to the larger community; and, they speak up for them in court. Advocates develop a personal, caring relationship with the child that endures through placement changes and new personnel. The information Advocates obtain is critical to the judge presiding in a child’s case. Judges make decisions regarding a child’s future with little time and limited information. Reports from Advocates give a voice to minors in the dependency system so judges can make decisions with a complete understanding of a child’s situation.
Child Advocates is located in Milpitas, CA - Santa Clara County. To find out more or to get involved with Child Advocates, call (408) 416-0400 or (800) 342-7480 or email info(at)cadvocates.org