Blog Posts
What's New at CASA Santa Barbara County
Meet Ava
Ava is just 5 months old. She was removed from her mother at birth because she tested positive for opioids. Her foster mother is having trouble finding the right formula to keep Ava at a healthy weight. She needs to see the doctor every two weeks. Ava...
Grace and Lauren
Grace and Lauren were removed from their home just two months ago. Not only are they sisters, but also best friends. They do not have any family members in the area, so they are currently in a temporary foster home. Their social worker is trying to find a...
CASA Hires a New Cheerleader for the Children
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) has a new staff member to help volunteers be the voice for abused or neglected children in Santa Barbara County. With over 300 children being served every day, and a waiting list of more than 80, Kira Farrell is ready to help....
Guild Mortgage is All-In for CASA Teens
Starting school can be an exciting time for a teenager: getting new school supplies, seeing friends again, and proudly wearing new clothes on that first day! Unfortunately for teens in foster care, their experience is full of hardships. On top of everything going on...
CASA Adds a New Member to the Santa Barbara County Team
CASA of Santa Barbara County is pleased to announce that a new member has joined their team to help the many children in our community facing abuse and/or neglect. With nearly 300 children being served and a waiting list of more than 80, Don Deming is ready to help...
CASA of Santa Barbara County Hosts Meet & Greet Celebration with The Women’s Fund of Northern Santa Barbara County
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Santa Barbara County held its first meet and greet with The Women’s Fund of Northern Santa Barbara County on Wednesday Evening, February 22, at CASA of Santa Barbara County in Santa Maria. “We were excited to host this...
CASA couples stay connected by volunteering together Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Santa Barbara County is celebrating Valentine’s Day by recognizing couples who serve together as volunteer advocates for abused and/or neglected children in the foster...
Meet Anna
Anna is six-years-old. She entered the foster care system before Christmas. She and her younger sisters came to the attention of CWS when neighbors reported them wandering the neighborhood, asking for food, and unsupervised. When Anna was removed from her home, the...
CASA Story of the Week (9/2)
When you are a child in foster care, you may miss out on some firsts. For 14-year-old Amy, she has missed out on many. This week, Amy got placed with a CASA of Santa Barbara County named Jeanine. They made a pact: together they will create a bucket list detailing...
Lompoc Veteran Retires After Seven Years of Service for CASA
August 25, 2016 Lompoc Veteran Retires After Seven Years of Service for CASA of Santa Barbara County Seven years is a long time. It is an especially long time for volunteer work, which requires an abundance of commitment, dedication and skills that does not...
CASA of Santa Barbara County Adds Two New Staff Members
For Immediate ReleaseAugust 24, 2016CASA Adds Two New Members to the Santa Barbara County Team There are two new members of the CASA of Santa Barbara County team who have joined with one goal in mind – to help the many children in our community facing abuse and/or...
Check It Out: Making Library Cards Accessible to SB County’s Foster Kids
Foster children are now able to obtain Library cards! In order to better serve the needs of youth who, through no fault of their own, are in foster care, an incredible group of individuals within our community took action. Thanks to the combined efforts of the County...
Does teaching a little boy how to fish really make a difference?
It sure made a difference for Tommy! Tommy was only 6, and had spent most of his life in homeless shelters. When shelter staff and residents reported serious abuse, Tommy and his younger brother were removed from their mother’s care. Witnesses described the boys...
A Message from Board of Directors President, Tony Papa
When I hear "CASA", I think of the African proverb, "It takes a village to raise a child". CASA is a vital conduit for members of our community (village) to step into the life of a neglected child and make a significant difference. A few years ago, we started to...
CASA Welcomes New Relationship Development Associate
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Santa Barbara County is pleased to welcome Tim Bigelow as their Relationship Development Associate. In his role, Bigelow is responsible for individual and corporate fundraising efforts throughout Santa Barbara County. “I am...
National Foster Care Month 2014
Each May, National Foster Care Month provides an opportunity to shine a light on the experiences of the more than 380,000 children and youth under 18 in the foster care system. The campaign raises awareness about the urgent needs of these young people and encourages...
Message From Lisa Murray
Happy New Year!As a CASA board member and advocate, I hope the holiday season brought joy and peace your way. Like many of you, I look forward to the start of a new year. It is a time of honest reflection. Each year I ask myself two questions: Am I a better person...
Veronica Sandoval Appointed to Board of Directors
Veronica Sandoval has a long history in the Santa Ynez valley and descends from the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. She began her employment with the tribe in 1995 and has operated in various departments including entertainment, marketing, public relations....