A Court Appointed Special Advocate is the tireless and passionate protector of a child who has been abused or neglected and is going through the trauma of the court system. CASA, (Court Appointed Special Advocates), is a private non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for childen that have been abused and neglected and are under the care of the court. The word "CASA" also applies to individual volunteers who are appointed by a judge to ensure that the best interests of these children are presented to the court. With the information provided by CASA volunteers, judges are able to make better quality decisions in two main areas, safety and permanency, in a reasonable time period.