CASA of the Fox Cities

CASA of the Fox Cities is a 501c(3) located in Appleton, WI, that serves the children and youth in Outagamie County. Our mission is to advocate in our local courts, with community volunteers, to achieve placement in safe and permanent homes for children who have experienced abuse and neglect. CASA of the Fox Cities is proud to be a local agency in the network of the National CASA/GAL Association for Children, which began in Seattle, WA, in 1977. Since then, there have been 900+ agencies around the United States that are dedicated to serving the children of this nation. CASA of the Fox Cities began in 2012 and was founded by Judge John DesJardins, who retired from the bench in 2021. Since then, CASA of the Fox Cities has served over 500 children and trained over 200 volunteers. We hope to serve all of the children in Outagamie County that would benefit from having just one consistent, caring adult to be their voice.

CASA of the Fox Cities, or Court Appointed Special Advocates, is dedicated to training volunteers who are assigned by judges to monitor children who have experienced abuse or neglect. Volunteers meet with these children regularly and provide monthly reports to the court. Judges then will use those reports to determine what is in the best interests of these vulnerable children. CASA volunteers identify, recommend, and ensure children and their families receive the services that will support their wellbeing--from early childhood through their transition to adulthood. CASA volunteers advocate for services to help parents and families, as well as the child, address the challenges they face. As a partner, they can support families in developing the skills they need to provide a safe family environment. Helping build stronger families decreases the likelihood that the children will re-enter the system and experience that trauma once again. For a child who has experienced abuse or neglect, having a trained caring CASA volunteer to advocate for them can make a life-changing difference. Having a trained caring adult to rely on is a key component to building resilience in children; for many, their CASA volunteer is that person.