Mission

Massachusetts CASA’s mission is to advance better outcomes for children and families in the child welfare system by supporting local CASA programs and advocating for compassionate, equitable, and just policies and practices.

Vision

A Commonwealth where every child has the opportunity to thrive in a safe and permanent home.

Purpose

• Raising public awareness and fostering compassion for the experiences of children and families involved in the court system due to alleged abuse or neglect.
• Providing equity- and justice-centered training and professional development for CASA staff and volunteers, child welfare partners, and the broader community.
• Serving as a catalyst for increased community engagement, particularly through the recruitment and support of volunteer advocates.
• Coordinating effective statewide public policy and advocacy efforts aimed at building a more equitable and just child welfare system.
• Driving systemic change that leads to better outcomes for children and families across Massachusetts.

Values

• We’re justice seekers: Our work is a microcosm of society’s most complex challenges, including peoples’ experiences of oppression and marginalization. We recognize the disproportionalities and disparities within the child welfare system that are a result of classism and racism, in addition to many other “isms”. We believe that we have a responsibility to bring awareness to disrupt harmful child welfare practices in whatever ways we can and lift up the voices of those that have been most harmed.
• We center lived experience: We elevate the voices of those most impacted by public systems and embed that representation of their experience and expertise at all levels of the organization through hiring, board recruitment, community engagement, training, and policy and advocacy. Those with lived experience will have their fingerprints on every aspect of our operations and meaningful influence over our decisions
• We value humility: We challenge ourselves to always remain open to learning and adapting. We recognize and acknowledge the strengths and expertise of others. We’re aware of our own limitations and areas for improvement. We acknowledge and take responsibility for our mistakes. 
• We value collaboration: We realize that we’re part of a larger ecosystem and the effectiveness of that system is dependent on our ability to meet others where they’re at, support one another in our respective roles, and inspire others to grow and be more effective. 
• We strive to build and maintain trust: Trust is the foundation of all of our relationships, whether with the children and families we advocate on behalf of, child welfare partners we collaborate with, donors who make our work possible, or the community as a whole. We build trust by living up to our values and taking responsibility for when we fall short. 
• We believe in the dignity of every individual: We believe that every human being has worth and deserves the care of our community. We strive to honor each individual’s perspective, feelings, and values. We understand that one’s actions are often a reflection of their circumstances- past and present. We strive to have empathy for every individual and disrupt actions that are harmful to their dignity. 
• We strive to do everything with integrity: We commit to being transparent and accountable. We bring our community into our work regularly and they know what we’re doing, how we’re doing it, and can ask questions and offer input.
• We’re hopeful. We believe that positive change can happen if we mobilize the right people in the right way- and persist. We understand that we’re aiming to contribute to solutions that involve very complex, deeply rooted issues.