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 Wednesday, October 22, 2008 – The Friends of CASA Annual Luncheon "Keeping Our Promise" - A CASA Advocate for Every Foster Child Wednesday, October 22, 2008 from 11:30am to 1:30pm InterContinental • The Clement Monterey • 750 Cannery Row Keynote Address: Judge Leonard Edwards Reservations required: RSVP - 831.455.6800 October 3rd through December 7th - Weekends "The Sunset Idea House" details below Monterey County has over 500 children in foster care. Every year, Monterey County Department of Social Services receives more than 5,000 reports of suspected child abuse and neglect. The Sunset Idea House Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from October 3rd through December 7th (including Thanksgiving weekend) Since 1998, Sunset Magazine has built 18 Idea Houses in strategic locations throughout the West. We are proud to announce that this fall Sunset will host an Idea House in Monterey County at Monterra Ranch Properties. This exquisite, state-of-the-art home features environmentally progressive design elements throughout and masterful use of the naturally breathtaking setting. This Idea House will be featured in Sunset Magazine this fall. CASA of Monterey County, as the charity recipient of this Idea House, is providing the volunteer docents for this project. If you would like to volunteer, please send us an email and our volunteer coordinator will contact you directly. The public viewing hours are from 9:00am – 4:00pm; entrance fee ranges from $15 – $18, cash or check only, no advance reservations. Please note this home is not handicap accessible and has several staircases. 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. Message from the Director: Change… by definition change is a different position, course, or direction. In our lives, change can range from unnerving to exhilarating. Change calls upon us to be resilient, flexible, and to take risks. Emotionally, change can stir up feelings of excitement, anticipation, loss or fear. It seems there have been multiple changes in our CASA lives the past few years. Our program has grown dramatically, we have encountered our share of staff turnover, new advocates have joined our team, others have transitioned away from this work, and board members serve and complete their terms of office. The singular most significant aspect of these changes is that our program continually rises to the challenge of change and grows stronger. (click here for full message...) Monterey County Weekly Voted CASA "Best Volunteer Organization" click here