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Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Middlesex County, Inc. is an independent, non-profit organization committed to advocating for the best interest of at risk children in out-of-home-placement who are victims of abuse and neglect. The CASA volunteer serves as the child’s voice in court and is committed to moving the child towards a safe and permanent home.

In 2006, CASA of Middlesex County was established to serve all children in the foster care system county-wide.
CASA opens chapter in Middlesex County

CASA History
The first Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program was established by a Seattle Family Court Judge in 1977. CASA became a fully national program in 1990 when the US Congress encouraged the expansion of CASA with the passage of the Victims of Child Abuse Act.
In 1998, Court Rule 5:8C was adopted in New Jersey sanctioning the appointment of a CASA volunteer to any case where the welfare of a child is in issue, and to advocate on behalf of that child's best interests. CASA of New Jersey was established in 2000 to support a statewide network of community-based CASA programs through funding, training, public education, and technical assistance.

The steady and comprehensive attention paid by our volunteers to all the forces at play when a child enters into and moves through the foster care system has been shown to be remarkably effective. The US Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General reported in its audit that once a CASA volunteer has been assigned to a child, that child is substantially less likely to languish in long-term foster care.
One of the primary benefits of the CASA program is that, unlike other involved parties, the volunteer is a consistent figure providing continuity for the child. CASA is unique in that it is the only program in which volunteers are appointed by the court to represent a child's best interests.

Today, CASA retains strong relationships with the Department of Children and Families (DCF), exemplified by a continued increase for CASA in DCF's budget for the past five years.

CASA is endorsed by the American Council of Family Court Judges and by the American Bar Association. CASA is also a priority project of the Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.