Child Advocacy Services CAC and CASA

What Child Advocacy Services CAC and CASA does

Child Advocacy Services (CAS) is a private, non-profit umbrella agency founded in 1993 and headquartered in Hammond, Louisiana, that delivers child advocacy services across 10 parishes in Southeast Louisiana. The organization operates two principal programs: the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program, which recruits, trains, and supervises community volunteers appointed by judges to advocate for abused and neglected children in court proceedings, and the Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) program, which provides a child-friendly, multidisciplinary environment for forensic interviews, advocacy, and trauma-focused counseling. CAS maintains four CAC sites in Hammond, Denham Springs, Gonzales, and St. Francisville, plus a River Parishes regional office in Destrehan serving St. John and St. Charles Parishes. Facility dog support is delivered through the Powerful PAWS for Children program, in partnership with Canine Companions since 2012, with the current facility dog Whirley participating in 90% of forensic interviews since 2022.

CAS's service portfolio spans the full continuum of child welfare intervention, including forensic interviews, family advocacy, counseling, human trafficking care coordination (delivered through the Louisiana Child and Youth Trafficking Collaborative with the Louisiana Governor's Office), and a suite of prevention-education programs (Darkness to Light, TBRI, PROTECT, Recognize React Report, and Prepared Not Scared). The organization is staffed by approximately 20 employees and relies on volunteers, including CASA advocates, for direct service delivery.

CAS is funded through a diversified non-profit revenue model that includes individual donations, corporate sponsorships, child sponsorship at $1,541 per child per year (the Buttons of Bravery program), monthly recurring giving at $5.41/month, the Threading Hope 365 annual campaign, memorials and tribute gifts, and United Way partner-agency allocations. The organization holds GuideStar Transparency Seal certification and is affiliated with National CASA, National Children's Alliance, Louisiana CASA, and the Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services. Marketing and outreach operate through a community-led motion: the website, monthly newsletter, social media (#GIVEAVOICE), annual Blue Run event, and Child Abuse Prevention Month initiatives (Plant. Protect. Prevent.), supplemented by corporate partnerships (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana being a named sponsor) and educational resource distribution.

Name

Child Advocacy Services CAC and CASA

Legal name

Child Advocacy Services

Website

https://childadv.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Child Advocacy Services is a 1993-founded Louisiana non-profit that runs CASA volunteer advocacy and four Children's Advocacy Center sites, serving abused and neglected children across 10 parishes with forensic interviews, counseling, human trafficking care, and prevention education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Child Advocacy and Social Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGAEAE

Child Welfare, Foster Care & Adoption Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

SECONDARYBPAGAEAM

Legal Aid & Client Advocacy Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

SECONDARYBPAGADAM

Youth Justice, At-Risk Youth & Violence Prevention Nonprofits

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

Keywords

• Child advocacy services
• Child abuse prevention
• Court appointed advocates
• Forensic interview services
• Trauma-focused counseling

Headquarters

HQ city

Destrehan

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting child advocacy services
2. Corporate Investments: Corporate sponsorships, employee contribution campaigns, specialized fundraisers, and event volunteer opportunities. Companies can become child sponsors through the Buttons of Bravery program.
3. Child Sponsorship Program (Buttons of Bravery): One thousand five hundred forty-one dollars ($1,541) provides services for One Child for One Year. Supports recruitment, training, and supervision of CASA volunteers, forensic interviews, advocacy, counseling services, and prevention education.
4. Threading Hope 365: Annual donation campaign where donors select a meaningful date and donate the corresponding dollar amount (e.g., January 1 = $1, December 31 = $365)
5. Memorials and Tributes: Donations made in honor or memory of loved ones, with acknowledgment cards sent to honorees or families
6. United Way Partnership: United Way partner agency receiving allocated workplace giving contributions

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Child Advocacy Services (CAS) operates a Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program that recruits, trains, and supervises volunteer advocates for abused and neglected children navigating the court system. It also runs a Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) program delivering multidisciplinary forensic interviews, victim advocacy, trauma-focused counseling, human trafficking care coordination, and facility dog support at four regional sites in Southeast Louisiana.

Product overview

Child Advocacy Services (CAS) operates as a non-profit umbrella agency providing two core programs: the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program and the Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) program. The CASA program recruits and trains volunteer advocates for abused children in court proceedings, while the CAC program offers a multidisciplinary approach to supporting child abuse victims through forensic interviews, advocacy, counseling, human trafficking care coordination, and facility dog support at four regional sites. CAS also delivers prevention education through Darkness to Light training, Trust-Based Relational Intervention, Recognize React Report, Prepared Not Scared, and PROTECT Program for human trafficking awareness. Community engagement includes events like Blue Run and Plant Protect Prevent initiatives, with sponsorship opportunities via the Buttons of Bravery program at $1,541 per child per year.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates): Program that recruits, trains, and supervises volunteers who serve as powerful voices for abused and neglected children as they navigate through the court system.
• CAC (Children's Advocacy Center)
• Buttons of Bravery
• Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI)
• Recognize, React, Report
• Prepared, Not Scared
• Powerful PAWS for Children

Products and services

• CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Recruits, trains, and supervises community volunteers appointed by judges to advocate for abused and neglected children in court proceedings, working collaboratively with the child welfare system to help each child reach a safe and permanent home.
• CAC (Children's Advocacy Center) Provides a safe, child-friendly environment for children who may have experienced abuse or witnessed a crime, with a multidisciplinary team of professionals working together to reduce trauma and ensure safety throughout the investigative process at four CAC sites in Hammond, Denham Springs, Gonzales, and St. Francisville.
• Forensic Interviews Conducts supportive, non-leading forensic interviews with children who may have experienced abuse or witnessed a crime, observed by multidisciplinary team members to minimize repeated questioning and preserved digitally.
• Advocacy (Family Services Coordination) Family Services Coordinators provide advocacy and resources to children and families visiting the CAC, conducting family needs assessments to identify relevant community resources throughout the process.
• Counseling Offers specialized trauma-focused therapy for children dealing with child abuse and neglect in St. John and St. Charles Parishes, with services also available to children and families in the community based on availability.
• Human Trafficking Care Coordination Employs Louisiana Child and Youth Trafficking Care Coordinators addressing the direct needs of trafficking victims through a multi-disciplinary approach via the Louisiana Child and Youth Trafficking Collaborative administered through the Louisiana Governor's Office.
• Powerful PAWS for Children Program utilizing professionally trained Facility Dogs placed by Canine Companions to provide additional advocacy and emotional support to children throughout the forensic interview process; dogs are trained in over 40 commands.
• Darkness to Light Training Evidence-based Stewards of Children training for adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse, offered through trained CAS facilitators.
• Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) Caregiver training for parents, professionals, and caregivers designed to meet the needs of vulnerable children, offering practical tools to see the whole child and help them reach their highest potential.
• Recognize, React, Report Community resource for protecting children and preventing child abuse, designed for adults and children to review together, including information on digital safety and the 5 Steps to Protecting Children.
• Prepared, Not Scared Resource helping families understand emotions associated with severe weather, including educational information and interactive activities about hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, fires, and thunderstorms featuring the character Sunny the turtle.
• Human Trafficking Awareness / Training Training program providing deeper insight into human trafficking, including how it looks in communities, breaking down myths and misconceptions, and how traffickers target and groom youth.
• PROTECT Program Interactive, age-appropriate training for students, school staff, parents, and community members to recognize signs of human trafficking, understand how trafficking happens, and respond in a trauma-informed, culturally responsive way.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,900 children accompanied through forensic interviews by facility dog program
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Canine CompanionscoreOthers · 1 January 2012Nonprofit organization that trained both facility dogs (Hayward and Whirley) placed with CAS. Hayward was the first facility dog placed in a CAC in Louisiana in 2012. Dogs are trained in over 40 commands to support children during forensic interviews.
• United WaycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerUnited Way partner agency status allows Child Advocacy Services to receive workplace giving allocations and collaborate on community initiatives. United Way logo appears on website as member agency.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of LouisianaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor for the Recognize, React, Report resource, providing ongoing support for printing and distribution of child protection educational materials.
• Louisiana Governor's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner administering the Louisiana Child and Youth Trafficking Collaborative. CAS employs two Louisiana Child and Youth Trafficking Care Coordinators addressing direct needs of trafficking victims through this partnership.
• Louisiana Alliance of Children's Advocacy CenterscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative member in the Louisiana Child and Youth Trafficking Collaborative, working with CACs across the state on multidisciplinary approach to child advocacy.
• National CASA AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization supporting Court Appointed Special Advocates programs, providing standards, training resources, and network support for local CASA programs.
• National Children's AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational accrediting body for Children's Advocacy Centers, providing standards and support for CAC programs across the country.
• Louisiana CASA AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level organization supporting CASA programs in Louisiana, providing resources and coordination for volunteer advocacy.
• LA Dept. of Children & Family ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government partner in child welfare system, working with CAS multidisciplinary teams in investigations of child abuse.
• LA Children's Trust FundminorGTM or Marketing PartnerState-level child abuse prevention funding and advocacy organization, linked as a resource partner.
• Darkness to LightcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization providing evidence-based child sexual abuse prevention training (Stewards of Children). CAS is a trained facilitator for this program.
• Blue Run 2026 SponsorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVarious corporate sponsors supporting the annual Blue Run event including Walk-On's Gonzales, Lumijoy Playhouse & Co., JFA, All About Inflatables, MVMT, DJBigFrank, and others visible in event sponsorship section.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Darkness to Light: National organization providing the Stewards of Children evidence-based child sexual abuse prevention training that CAS delivers locally as a trained facilitator. Strong content/program overlap in prevention education.

Broad incumbents

• National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC): National nonprofit focused on child exploitation and trafficking, with overlapping mission content around the trafficking and exploitation cases that CAS's care coordination program addresses. Comparable at the program-level rather than service-delivery level.
• Prevent Child Abuse America: National nonprofit focused on child abuse prevention, including the Pinwheels for Prevention campaign that CAS participates in through its Plant. Protect. Prevent. initiative. Directly comparable mission and prevention-education programming.
• National CASA Association: The national umbrella organization supporting Court Appointed Special Advocates programs across the U.S. Directly comparable because CAS is an affiliate CASA program; they set training standards, accreditation, and network support for the same volunteer court-advocacy model.
• Covenant House: Large national nonprofit serving trafficked and at-risk youth through shelter and outreach. Comparable because of shared client population (trafficked and abused youth) and overlapping human trafficking program work, though delivery model (residential) differs from CAS.
• National Children's Alliance: The national accrediting body for Children's Advocacy Centers. CAS is an accredited member; NCA sets the multidisciplinary team standards CAS uses at its four CAC sites, making it the closest structural peer for the CAC side of operations.

Regional players

• Baton Rouge Children's Advocacy Center: A separately operated CAC in the same state (Louisiana) providing identical multidisciplinary child abuse services. Highly comparable service model and program portfolio, though operating in the Baton Rouge area rather than CAS's Southeast Louisiana parishes.

Others

• Canine Companions for Independence: National nonprofit that trained and placed both of CAS's facility dogs (Hayward in 2012 and Whirley). Not a direct peer in advocacy but a key service partner underpinning CAS's differentiated Powerful PAWS program.

Direct peers

• Louisiana CASA Association: State-level CASA network of which CAS is a member program. Most directly comparable peer because it coordinates the same CASA volunteer court-advocacy model at the state level across Louisiana.
• Louisiana Alliance of Children's Advocacy Centers: The statewide coalition of Louisiana CACs of which CAS is an active member. Most directly comparable as a peer because it represents the same model (CAC + CASA) operating in the same state regulatory and funding environment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/child-advocacy-services-cac-and-casa

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Child Advocacy Services CAC and CASA