Louisiana CASA

Mission

The mission of the Louisiana CASA Association is to support local programs in their efforts to ensure that abused and neglected children in the Louisiana legal system have a competent and caring volunteer advocate through quality, local CASA programs.

Vision-Focused:  LACASA in 2009

In 2009, the Louisiana CASA Association supports the efforts of local programs in their mission of serving abused and neglected children by facilitating quality training and technical assistance opportunities; networking and sharing information, statistics, and data to support and educate the public about CASA; and participating with stakeholders in statewide, collaborative initiatives that strengthen the collective voice of Louisiana’s children and families.  Promoting the network of Louisiana’s local CASA programs, the Association serves its members through well-planned, relevant activities that carry forward the united mission of finding safe, permanent families for the children we serve.

LACASA achieves this vision through competency and achievement in the following areas:

• Service and Support to Programs: LACASA functions as a communications and information-sharing hub for the local programs; sharing technical resources and coordinating training opportunities with the explicit purpose of supporting services to abused and neglected children.  The Association is a valued network of the local CASA programs, with timely and healthy communication with and among the programs.  LACASA is providing services and benefits to the local programs through the six core areas of service as identified by National CASA Association.
• Board Governance: Reflecting the communities of Louisiana, LA CASA’s Board of Directors represent a geographically and culturally diverse membership of leaders and advocates who bring to the organization a varied set of skills and experiences which strengthen the mission of the Association.  The Board recognizes and embraces its role of governance in support of the Association’s mission.
• Awareness, Outreach & Collaboration: The Association continues to represent the best interests of the programs by virtue of its participation in key groups and discussions at the state level.  Recognizing the importance of community awareness of CASA, and the need for additional volunteers, LACASA supports the efforts of local programs by actively and continuously sharing the story of CASA with stakeholders, leaders, and the general public.  With a clearly-defined Mission, LACASA understands and embraces its role and relationships with key partners and stakeholders.
• Sustainability: By 2009, LACASA will have developed and engaged in a resource development plan with focuses on sustainability for the Association.   Resources acquired by the Association are utilized to provide services to programs.

As LA CASA achieves its Vision for 2009, the network begins engaging in strategic discussions that produce new opportunities to further strengthen the competency of volunteer advocates and staff as well as increase the number of Louisiana’s children whose voices are heard and served through quality advocacy by their community CASA program.

Value-Focused:  Core Values of LACASA

• Value the worth of Children & Families
• Support for local CASA programs in their efforts to serve abused and neglected children through best practices and quality advocacy
• Embrace the strength and uniqueness that defines the cultural and racial diversity of Louisiana’s communities and families
• Advocate and voice for policy and practices that support the priorities and needs of abused and neglected children
• Responsible stewards of Association resources to provide services to the community
• A child’s right to a safe and permanent home
• Promote and participate in collaborative efforts which support the best interest and welfare of all of Louisiana’s children