Member Spotlight: CASA of Northeast Louisiana

Chamber Member of the Month

Honoring year-round advocacy—and heartfelt impact during the holiday season

During a season centered on generosity, compassion, and caring for others, few organizations embody the spirit of the holidays more than CASA of Northeast Louisiana. As our December Chamber Member of the Month, CASA is being recognized for its vital, year-round service to children who need stability, hope, and a trusted adult in their corner—especially during one of the most emotional times of the year.

A division of The Center for Children & Families, CASA recruits, trains, and supports volunteers who serve as dedicated advocates for children who have experienced abuse or neglect. Their mission is simple yet profound: ensure that every child in the foster care system has a voice, a champion, and a real chance at a safe and permanent home. CASA volunteers are appointed by the court and work alongside judges, social workers, teachers, and caregivers to understand each child’s circumstances, communicate their needs, and recommend what is safest and most supportive for their long-term wellbeing. Through individualized advocacy and consistent presence, they help children move toward stability and reduce the time they spend in foster care.

One powerful example illustrates the heart of their work. When a sibling group was separated at the time of removal, their CASA volunteer stepped in with a determination to keep their bond intact. Despite four placement changes over three years, the volunteer remained the one steady presence—visiting monthly, advocating in every hearing, and ensuring their voices were not lost in the system. After five long years in foster care, the CASA volunteer helped champion their adoption by a foster family who had provided the stability they needed. Today, the children are thriving in a safe, permanent home—playing soccer, participating in dance, and enjoying the sense of belonging that comes from finally having a family and staying together.

CASA’s impact continues to grow across Northeast Louisiana. In 2024, the organization supported 318 children, including 200 in Ouachita Parish. With the addition of new volunteers in 2025, CASA expanded its reach to 382 children—249 of them in Ouachita Parish—ensuring more young people have a dedicated advocate standing beside them. Each volunteer meets regularly with the child, gathers input from those involved in the child’s care, and helps connect them with resources such as counseling, medical services, educational support, and extracurricular opportunities. Beyond those supports, CASA volunteers provide something irreplaceable: a consistent, trusted adult who listens, shows up, and makes sure the child feels seen and valued.

Children in foster care often face enormous challenges—uncertainty about their future, disrupted routines, and the lingering effects of past trauma. CASA helps bridge these gaps by giving each child a stable adult who advocates for what they need most. With a CASA volunteer by their side, children feel supported, heard, and guided toward a safer and more hopeful future.

CASA’s work is strengthened by the support of businesses, civic partners, and community volunteers. These partnerships provide resources, funding, and awareness that allow the organization to recruit and train more advocates. One recent initiative highlights this collaborative impact: CASA and The Center for Children & Families have formed a growing alliance with the Northeast Louisiana Children’s Museum. Through trauma-informed support days hosted at the museum, foster families receive training and resources while children explore the interactive exhibits free of charge. Together, the organizations are creating a welcoming, informed, and healing environment for families across our region.

Becoming a CASA volunteer requires commitment, training, and heart—but no background in law or social work. Volunteers must be at least 21, complete a comprehensive training program, and commit to consistently supporting a child or sibling group. The people who thrive in this role are compassionate, dependable, good listeners, and motivated by the desire to make a meaningful difference. CASA volunteers come from every walk of life—retirees, teachers, business professionals, students—and they all share the belief that every child deserves safety, stability, and hope.

For those who want to get involved, there are several meaningful ways to support CASA’s mission. Volunteering is the most direct way to impact a child’s life, while donations help fund training, resources, and services. Community members can also raise awareness, share CASA’s message, support events, or engage their businesses and civic groups in partnership efforts. Every contribution—large or small—helps ensure that more children in foster care have a dedicated adult advocating for their best interests.

CASA of Northeast Louisiana stands apart because of its unique role in the court system and its commitment to providing each child a consistent, long-term advocate who speaks solely for their needs. The organization’s staff and volunteers take great pride in seeing the life-changing impact that one caring adult can have. Every successful placement, every child who feels supported, and every family who finds stability is a direct result of their dedication.

As CASA looks ahead to the coming year, its goals focus on expanding its volunteer base so that no child waits without an advocate, increasing public awareness of the needs facing children in foster care, and strengthening community partnerships that make this work possible. With continued support from local businesses, civic leaders, and volunteers, CASA is poised to deepen its impact and continue offering hope, stability, and a brighter future for the children who need it most.