Our mission is to ensure that abused and neglected children are provided with every available opportunity to begin a journey into healthy, productive lives. By introducing caring, responsible adults into their lives, we help break the cycle of abuse and neglect. By engaging trained volunteers, we empower people in our community to place children’s needs and wellbeing as a priority.

CASA of Monterey County

Welcome… CASA of Monterey County is dedicated to the safety, well-being, and best interests of the children in the Dependency System of Monterey and San Benito Counties. Through a comprehensive program we work to ensure children's needs are being met. One of the greatest ways you can help an abused child is to become a volunteer advocate or to donate to our program. Follow the sidebar links to 'Become an Advocate' to learn about the training process or to 'Donate to CASA' to invest in a child's future and in our community.  UPCOMING EVENTS The 7th Annual CASA Classic Golf Tournament Benefitting CASA OF MONTEREY COUNTY MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2009 PASSADERA COUNTRY CLUB Registration Begins at 11:00am, Lunch Served at 11:30am Tournament Begins at 12:30pm, Dinner & Awards at 6:00pm [click here for registration form] Dear Friends and Supporters, Work…. In the words of the late, Irish Philosopher, John O'Donohue, "May the sacredness of your work bring healing, light and renewal to those who work with you and to those who see and receive your work. May your work never weary you. May it release within you wellsprings of refreshment, inspiration and excitement." Work and the hope it brings.... Our work with CASA challenges us to always stay focused on what we can do better, how we can be more effective, and more productive. Our work energizes us. Our volunteer advocates work in ways that create new hope for children and youth. 2009 will be a year of hard work, but one filled with promises of great changes and the hope that goes along with them. Despite a daunting economic situation, and the uncertainty of how things will play out, we still have hope. Hope… Children often show us the greatest examples of hope and optimism. Even when they are faced with the harsh realities of their circumstances, they talk about their dreams and ambitions. Yet experience has shown that the underlying issues and losses must be worked through if that young person is to realize his or her dreams. We cannot deny that from serious abuse or prolonged neglect comes a longing for connectedness and attention. Abuse in its many forms creates an inability to form trusting relationships. The grief, loss, and pain of abuse lingers until someone steps in and helps guide the child through the ups and downs of the healing process. The CASA advocate is an integral part of this journey. Not alone in the process, the advocates work in collaboration with other people involved in the child's life. This year CASA of Monterey County is joining our system partners in a renewed implementation of the California Permanency for Youth Project - CPYP. Several CASAs will be working along with the youth, their social worker, guardian, therapist, or family to chart a course to permanency for the youth. Consultants will guide the team in helping the youth deal with the grief and loss that pervades their lives. The team will look at how they can work together to support the young person in finding the kind of permanency that we all long for in our lives. Simply defined, permanency is the individual and/or family who will always be there for that child with an unconditional, limitless, and genuine connection. Through permanency hopes and dreams are renewed. Maybe you have found your way to this website because you are looking for a meaningful way to start your new year. Possibly you are new to this CASA website or our program, or maybe you are back for a second or third look. This might just be the right time for you to infuse hope into a young person's life by becoming a CASA advocate. It is of course a very serious commitment. It is an investment in someone's future. Rewarding some days; difficult on others, it has the potential to be one of the most powerful choices you can make for your life, and of course, for the life of a child. You can create hope in your community by helping a child or by supporting CASA. Hope… In the words of author Anne Lamont, "Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don't give up." This year, show up for a child. Watch out for him, work for him, and don't give up. Thank you and with warm regards, Siobhan Greene If you are in our neighborhood, please stop by and visit our newly completed child/youth activity room. This room was created by local professionals, spearheaded by advocates Susan Gardner and the construction/archetectural firm Saroyan Masterbuilders. All of the paint, art work, labor, the mural, furnishings, and construction needed to make this project a reality were donated. Click here for the list of the generous supporters of this project. Turn your unused car into CASA dollars! Car Program FAQ's Vehicle Donation Form