Court Appointed Special Advocates of New York State (CASANYS)

What Court Appointed Special Advocates of New York State (CASANYS) does

The New York State CASA Association, Inc. (CASANYS), founded in 1995, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered at 14 Columbia Circle, Suite 206, Albany, NY. It coordinates a statewide network of local Court Appointed Special Advocate programs serving children in foster and kinship care across New York State. CASA volunteers are recruited, trained, and supervised through local programs and appointed by family court judges to serve as independent advocates for abused and neglected children, providing consistent presence, case monitoring, and recommendations to the court regarding children's best interests.

CASANYS delivers its mission through an integrated training and resource platform housed within the Center for Advocacy, Training & Excellence (CATE). The product suite includes the Pre-Advocacy Academy (a six-week, ~36-hour virtual training based on National CASA/GAL curriculum), the On-Demand Training Center (recorded sessions for advocates, staff, and board members), the Advocate Exchange (live training sessions and info meetings), the CASA Reading Library, and the Youth Corner hub for older youth in care. Technology infrastructure is modest and standard for the nonprofit sector: Zoom for virtual training, Box.com for resource storage, Squarespace for web, and Zeffy/Eventbrite for event registration. No proprietary technology, mobile app, API, or AI capabilities are disclosed.

The organization is funded through a diversified mix of revenue streams: individual donations (check, stock, wire), event sponsorships (Legacy tier at $25,000+ down to Bronze at $250), government grants from the Office of Court Administration of the NYS Unified Court System and the NYS Office of Victim Services, pass-through federal funding via National CASA/GAL Association (sourced from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention), planned giving/bequests, and social-media-driven birthday fundraising. All services are provided free of charge to children in foster care. Leadership consists of Executive Director Jackie Boissonnault, LMSW, with Lee Lounsbury serving as President of the Board of Directors. The organization holds a Charity Navigator 4-Star Rating and a Candid Platinum Transparency Seal.

Name

Court Appointed Special Advocates of New York State (CASANYS)

Legal name

The New York State CASA Association, Inc.

Website

https://casanys.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CASANYS is a New York State 501(c)(3) nonprofit, founded in 1995, that coordinates a statewide network of local Court Appointed Special Advocate programs. It recruits, trains, and supports volunteers appointed by family court judges to advocate for abused and neglected children in foster care.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child Welfare Advocacy Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGADAO

Youth Housing, Foster Care & Wraparound Support (Education-Linked) Nonprofits

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Education & Youth Development Nonprofits

SECONDARYBPAIAFAF

Juvenile Justice System (Courts & Detention)

Business & Public Services/Public Sector & Government Administration/Justice System (Courts, Prosecution & Corrections)

Keywords

• Child advocacy services
• Volunteer court advocacy
• Foster care support
• Child welfare programs
• Nonprofit advocacy training

Headquarters

HQ city

Albany, NY

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible charitable donations from individuals supporting CASA's mission to advocate for children in foster care. Donations can be made via check, stock, wire transfer, or other charitable giving vehicles.
2. Event Sponsorships: Corporate and individual sponsorships for the annual Diamond & Hearts for New York's Children event and other fundraising events, with sponsorship tiers ranging from $250 (Bronze) to $25,000+ (Legacy).
3. Planned Giving and Estate Gifts: Bequests in wills, life insurance designations, and gifts of appreciated property. Donor-advised fund contributions also accepted.
4. Government Grants and Funding: Funding from the Office of Court Administration of the NYS Unified Court System, NYS Office of Victim Services, and pass-through support to local CASA programs. National CASA/GAL Association receives federal funding from Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
5. Social Media Fundraising: Birthday and special event fundraising campaigns through social media channels where supporters create donation pages.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CASANYS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that coordinates a statewide network of local CASA programs across New York. It recruits, trains, and supports community volunteers who are appointed by family court judges to serve as independent advocates for children who have been abused or neglected and are involved in the foster care system. The organization also delivers training, resources, and educational programs for advocates, staff, board members, and older youth in care.

Product overview

CASANYS operates as a nonprofit advocacy organization rather than a traditional product company. Its core offering is the CASA Volunteer Advocate Program, supported by an integrated suite of training and educational products. The primary products include the Pre-Advocacy Academy (a six-week virtual training for new volunteers) and the On-Demand Training Center (a library of recorded sessions for advocates, staff, and board members), both housed within the Center for Advocacy, Training & Excellence (CATE). The Advocate Exchange provides live training sessions and info meetings, while the CASA Reading Library offers curated foster care literature. Youth Corner serves older youth in care with resources for independent living, education, employment, and rights awareness. The annual Diamond & Hearts event celebrates advocacy achievements across the network. This platform-plus-programs architecture enables CASANYS to train and support a statewide network of volunteer advocates serving abused and neglected children.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CASA Volunteer Advocate Program Community volunteer program in which trained Court Appointed Special Advocates are appointed by family court judges to advocate for children who have been abused or neglected and are in foster or kinship care. Volunteers provide consistent support, voice, and court advocacy for each child's best interests.
• Pre-Advocacy Academy A six-week virtual training program that prepares new volunteers to become Court Appointed Special Advocates. Approximately 36 hours of training combining live Zoom classes and online independent learning, covering child abuse and neglect, trauma and resilience, family court systems, cultural awareness, and court report writing.
• On-Demand Training Center A library of recorded training sessions organized by topic and role, including hubs for advocates (Foundations for Impact, Legal Justice Initiative, Protecting Health Promoting Healing, In The Classroom On Their Side), program staff (Operational Excellence), and board/executive directors (Guided to Govern, Called to Lead). All recordings include downloadable handouts.
• Center for Advocacy, Training & Excellence (CATE) The central hub for learning, growth, and professional development across the CASA network in New York State, housing the Pre-Advocacy Academy, Advocate Exchange, CASA Reading Library, On-Demand Training Center, and Spotlight Series. Designed to support volunteers, staff, and board members.
• Advocate Exchange A platform for live, real-time training sessions including CASANYS Info-Sessions, Pre-Advocacy Academy cohorts, continuing education workshops, book club discussions, and specialized trainings on topics like Foster Care Bill of Rights and Kinship Caregivers advocacy.
• CASA Reading Library A curated collection of books exploring the experiences of children in foster care, providing diverse perspectives and narratives on foster care topics. Includes titles such as Wards of the State, Another Place at the Table, The Deepest Well, Etched in Sand, and Invisible Child.
• Youth Corner A resource hub for older youth in foster care providing tools for independent living skills, education and career planning, housing guidance, employment resources, rights education, and LGBTQ+ resources. Includes links to external support organizations across New York State.
• Diamond & Hearts Event Annual friendraising event recognizing advocacy and contributions within the CASA network and among key partners in the child welfare field. Includes the Diamond & Hearts for New York's Children Awards, Champion for New York's Children Award, and Heart for New York's Children Award.

Quantifiable outcome

• Case resulting in adoption after 1,092 days in foster care through consistent advocacy and voice amplification
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Office of Court Administration of the NYS Unified Court SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment funding partner providing grant support to CASA of New York State and local programs. Pass-through funding supports advocacy services for children in family court proceedings.
• NYS Office of Victim ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment funding source supporting victim assistance programs including advocacy services for children who have been abused and neglected.
• National CASA/GAL AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization providing technical assistance, training curricula, branding and marketing support to state CASA associations. Funded in part by federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.
• Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of Diamond & Hearts event and supporter of CASA programming.
• 677 PrimeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRestaurant venue sponsor for Diamond & Hearts events in Albany, NY.
• Greater Mental Health of New YorkminorOthers2025 Diamond & Hearts award recipient and mental health services partner working to expand accessibility to care for individuals of all ages.
• Mental Health America of Dutchess CountyminorOthers2025 Diamond & Hearts award recipient and nonprofit partner dedicated to mental health services in Dutchess County.
• Mental Health Advocates of Western New York, Inc.minorOthers2025 Diamond & Hearts award recipient committed to fostering an inclusive environment where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect.
• Northern Rivers Family of ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner2023 Diamond & Hearts award recipient - a family of human services agencies providing life-changing care to children, adults, and families.
• Ali Forney CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNYC-based organization providing drop-in services, emergency housing, transitional housing, job readiness, and health services for LGBTQ+ youth. Listed as LGBTQ+ resource for CASA youth.
• SCO Family of Services - LGBTQ Residential ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOperates small home-like settings in Brooklyn & Queens for LGBTQ youth in foster care ages 15-21. Listed as resource for CASA youth.
• Urban Justice Center - Peter Cicchino Youth ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides legal services to LGBTQ youth in NYC who are homeless, in foster care, or involved with juvenile justice systems. Listed as LGBTQ+ resource.
• Hetrick-Martin InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorks with NYC LGBTQ+ youth ages 13-24 offering counseling, drop-in support, mentoring. Listed as resource for CASA youth.
• The Resolution Center (CASA of the Great Lakes-Seaway Region)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal CASA program co-hosting events like yard sales with Family Counseling Service of NNY to raise funds for children and families in the North Country.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• National CASA/GAL Association: National umbrella organization for the CASA network; provides standardized training curricula, branding, and federal OJJDP pass-through funding to CASANYS. Directly comparable as a sister organization in the same volunteer-advocate-for-children mission.
• CASA-NYC: Local CASA program operating in New York City under the CASANYS network; runs volunteer advocate training, annual fall luncheon fundraising, and court-appointed advocacy for NYC foster children. Comparable as an affiliated local CASA program serving the same New York State population.
• CASA of Travis County: Local CASA program serving Travis County, Texas with a similar volunteer-advocate-for-foster-children model and court-appointed structure. Comparable in mission, funding model, and volunteer-led service delivery.
• CASA of Los Angeles: One of the largest local CASA programs in the U.S., recruiting and training community volunteers to advocate for foster children in LA County juvenile court. Directly comparable model of court-appointed volunteer advocacy operating in a different geography.
• CASA of Maryland: State-level CASA organization coordinating local programs across Maryland with a similar volunteer-recruitment, training, and court-advocacy mission. Comparable as a sibling state CASA association within the National CASA network.

Broad incumbents

• Casey Family Programs: Large national foundation focused on safely reducing the need for foster care and providing services to children, youth, and families. Comparable mission scope (child welfare/foster care) but operates at a much larger national scale with broader programmatic reach.
• Children's Aid Society: Large New York City-based nonprofit providing a broad portfolio of child welfare, education, and family support services including foster care-adjacent programming. Comparable in NYS child welfare focus but operates at far greater scale with multi-program service delivery.

Emerging players

• FosterClub: National nonprofit led by foster care alumni providing peer support, leadership training, and advocacy for youth currently in foster care. Comparable youth advocacy mission but focused on peer-led youth voice rather than court-appointed adult volunteer advocacy.
• Kids In Need of Defense (KIND): National nonprofit providing legal representation and advocacy for unaccompanied immigrant children, including those in foster care. Comparable in court-appointed advocacy mission for vulnerable children, but focused on immigration law rather than general foster care.

Others

• Northern Rivers Family of Services: New York State-based human services agency providing residential, behavioral health, and family services to children and families; a partner of CASANYS and a 2023 Diamond & Hearts award recipient. Comparable NYS child welfare ecosystem participant but offers direct service delivery rather than volunteer advocacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/casanys

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Court Appointed Special Advocates of New York State (CASANYS)