Contact:
Matthew Wadlinger, Chief Brand Officer
714-619-0646
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Orange County receives national grant to improve support to Orange County’s children impacted by the child welfare system
Location (Orange County, CA) – April 22, 2026 – Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Orange County has been awarded a $55,000 Volunteer Recruitment Grant from the National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Association. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Orange County recruits, trains and supports volunteers who advocate for the best interests of children who are involved in judicial proceedings related to abuse or neglect. Volunteer advocates are trained to support children through regular visits, information gathering, court reporting and continuous case monitoring until the child/youth has a permanent home, preferably with their family of origin whenever safely possible.
The National CASA/GAL Volunteer Recruitment Grant will enable CASA of Orange County to focus on implementing a targeted, high-impact volunteer recruitment initiative designed to address the significant decline in volunteerism and the growing gap between youth in foster care and CASA volunteers. Across the country, volunteer participation has decreased sharply, and CASA OC has experienced the direct effects of this trend. At the same time, the need for highly-trained CASA volunteers to support children and youth in foster care remains high and continues to grow. CASA OC has responded by expanding recruitment efforts through enhanced marketing and community engagement strategies. These efforts have successfully increased awareness and generated new interest in volunteering, yet demand for services requires a greater scale and sustained investment. During the 2025-2026 fiscal year, CASA OC will continue to invest in its recruitment marketing efforts to increase the number of inquiries, applications, and volunteers recruited, trained, and sworn in as CASAs so that we can ultimately serve more children. The approved funding will specifically support the placement of high-visibility billboard advertisements in strategically selected, high-traffic locations throughout Orange County to recruit and swear in a greater number of advocates to serve more Orange County children in foster care.
“CASA of Orange County is honored to receive a Volunteer Recruitment Grant from National CASA/GAL Association for Children for the second consecutive year. This investment will help expand our volunteer recruitment efforts through strategically placed billboards across Orange County, increasing community awareness and inspiring more individuals to become CASA volunteers. With more than 300 children in Orange County’s foster care system currently waiting to be matched with an advocate, this support is critical to helping us grow our network of over 700 active CASA volunteers and ensure more youth have a consistent, caring adult by their side.” — Matthew Wadlinger, Chief Brand Officer, CASA of Orange County.
There are 939 CASA/GAL state organizations and local programs operating in 49 states and the District of Columbia. This funding is provided under the OJJDP FY24 Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Training, Technical Assistance, and Subgrants Program (CFDA #16.756) to manage a national grant awards program on behalf of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) primarily for the purpose of increasing the number Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/Guardian ad Litem (GAL) volunteers to advocate for the best interest of children who have experienced abuse or neglect and are the subject of civil court child abuse and neglect proceedings. National CASA/GAL administers the grants program under a cooperative agreement with OJJDP which is authorized pursuant to the Victims of Child Abuse Act, 34 USC §20323.
###
About Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Orange County
A 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded in 1985, Court Appointed Special Advocates of Orange County (CASA OC) provides a powerful voice and a meaningful connection for children who have experienced abuse, neglect and abandonment. CASA volunteers are a crucial intervention to help ensure safety, speed up permanent placement, help children and youth thrive in school, and support positive health outcomes. A CASA volunteer is often the only consistent adult in a child or youth’s life who is not paid to support and advocate for them. The CEO of CASA OC since 2017 is Regan Dean Phillips, Esq., MSW. Chair of the Board of Directors is Michael Wong, President & CEO, Genea. CASA is a private, nonprofit organization supported by individuals, foundations, corporations, and government agencies. It is a member of the National CASA/GAL Association for Children. Please visit casaoc.org to learn more.
About the National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem Association
The National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Association, together with its 941 state and local program members, supports and promotes court-appointed volunteer advocacy so that every child who is involved in judicial proceedings related to abuse or neglect in the United States can be safe, have a permanent home and have the opportunity to thrive. National CASA/GAL offers leadership and support to the network of programs and leads its continued growth. CASA/GAL volunteers and staff work every day to advocate for children/youth and to strengthen and support families. To learn more, visit nationalcasagal.org.