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Warren County's Court Appointed Special Advocates is looking for a few good advocates.
CASA volunteer advocates are appointed by the court to represent the best interests of children involved in abuse and neglect cases, providing consistent support throughout the legal process. The organization currently serves 22 children, with 12 still waiting to be matched with volunteer advocates. At present, CASA has only eight active volunteers.
Children who need CASA's help are children who need someone to speak up on their behalf, something that requires an empathetic ear and an ability to express themselves clearly to attorneys. There are a good many people here in Warren County who have those abilities, and the good news is we're not looking for hundreds of potential CASA advocates in Warren County. Advocates are needed for 12 children who need advocacy and help through the court process.
In terms of sheer numbers, this is a need that we can meet collectively.
CASA of Chautauqua County – a stone's throw away from us here in Warren County – has the capacity to help about 45 children at any given time with 30 active advocates. That equals about 1.5 children per advocate. In Warren County, we have 22 children being helped by eight advocates, an average of 2.75 children per advocate, with advocates needed for 12 additional children.
What's more concerning than the lack of CASA volunteers is the percentage of children who need help. There are roughly 7,148 children under the age of 18 in Warren County, according to 2025 U.S. Census Bureau estimates. Roughly .4% of those children need help through CASA. The percentage of Chautauqua County's population of children who need CASA help is only .18%.
The point of that math lesson is this: we have a decent percentage of children here in Warren County who need a concerned and capable adult in their lives right now. Unlike other areas, two or three Warren County residents can make a heck of a difference in the lives of children who could desperately use a difference maker in their lives right now.
To get involved, call CASA of Warren and Forest Counties at 814-723-4434 or visit the non-profit’s office at 207 Second Ave., Warren.