Impact in Action: How Community Support Is Strengthening CASA of Oakland County
Every child in foster care deserves someone who will speak up for their best interests. At CARE House of Oakland County, our Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program ensures that children experiencing abuse and neglect have a dedicated advocate by their side throughout their journey in the child welfare system.
Thanks to the generous support of Impact100 Oakland County, we’re continuing to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children across our community.
Supporting Children When They Need It Most
From January through May 2026, Impact100 grant funding helped support our CASA Director and CASA Case Managers, providing the leadership and case management needed to keep our program running at full capacity.
During this five-month period, CASA advocates served an average of 85 children each month, ensuring that vulnerable youth had a consistent voice in court and throughout their foster care experience.
Even more encouraging, 20 children achieved permanency through reunification with their families or adoption, marking life-changing milestones made possible through the dedication of CASA volunteers, staff, and community partners.
Building a Strong Volunteer Network
CASA’s impact is powered by volunteers who commit their time and compassion to advocating for children. Between January and May, we successfully retained 74 CASA volunteers, each making a lasting difference in the lives of the children they serve.
This strong volunteer base allows us to continue providing individualized advocacy while expanding our capacity to meet the needs of children entering foster care.
Growing Stronger Together
One of this year’s most significant achievements was filling a long-vacant CASA Case Manager position. After the role remained open since the summer of 2025, we welcomed a second Case Manager in spring 2026, strengthening our ability to support both volunteers and the children they advocate for.
This investment has helped us maintain the high level of service our community depends on while positioning the program for continued growth.
Celebrating Milestones
This year has also brought exciting recognition for the CASA program.
CASA of Oakland County was honored with the Liberty Bell Award from the Oakland County Bar Association, recognizing the program’s commitment to strengthening the justice system and advocating for children involved in the courts. The award reflects the tremendous value CASA volunteers bring to foster youth and the legal community alike.
We also celebrated another incredible milestone at our annual CARE-ing for CASA fundraising event, where supporters helped raise more than $50,000 for the program. This community investment will help ensure CASA can continue serving children well into the future.
Looking Ahead
As fundraising challenges continue to evolve, community partnerships remain more important than ever.
In addition to the Impact100 Oakland County grant, CARE House recently secured a multi-year donor commitment to support a CASA Case Manager position. We’re also exploring additional grant opportunities, cultivating support from individuals and corporate partners, and pursuing State of Michigan Child Care Funding through Oakland County.
These efforts will help sustain and strengthen the program so that every child who needs a CASA advocate has one.
The Power of Community Support
The Impact100 Oakland County grant has done more than fund day-to-day operations—it has provided stability during a changing fundraising landscape, allowing CARE House to continue recruiting, training, and supporting CASA volunteers while pursuing long-term sustainability.
Most importantly, it has ensured that children in foster care continue to have someone standing beside them, advocating for their safety, well-being, and future.
Every child deserves a voice. Thanks to partners like Impact100 Oakland County and our generous community, more children in Oakland County have one.