Every child deserves a voice in the room that decides their life.
We train ordinary people in western Nebraska to walk beside abused and neglected children — through court hearings, school transitions, and the long road back to safety. One steady adult. One promise kept.
Listens. Visits. Shows up at every hearing. Speaks the child's truth.
A fraction of your time. A lifetime of difference.
A single CASA volunteer averages 10 hours a month and follows a child from placement through permanency — sometimes for years.
From neighbor to the one steady adult in a child's life.
Most people who become CASAs have never set foot in a courtroom. We walk every step with you. Here's what that path looks like.
- 01 · Train
30 hours of pre-service training
Online modules and live courtroom observation. No legal background required.
- 02 · Sworn in
Take the oath before a judge
You become an officer of the court — accountable only to the child you serve.
- 03 · Assigned
Meet your child
One case at a time. You learn their story, their school, their fears, their hopes.
- 04 · Advocate
Speak in court
Your written report often becomes the most child-focused document the judge sees.
- 05 · Change a life
Stay until permanency
Most CASAs walk with their child 12–24 months — until they have a safe, permanent home.
In western Nebraska, abused children land in courtrooms built for adults.
Caseworkers rotate. Attorneys carry dozens of files. The judge meets the child for minutes. PlainsWest CASA exists so one trained, sworn-in adult walks beside that child from the first hearing to the last — knowing them, advocating for them, writing the report the court relies on.
“A child with a CASA is more likely to find a safe, permanent home — and far less likely to re-enter foster care. We are, very simply, the difference between a child being seen and a child being a case number.”
Come meet us in person.
The best way to understand CASA is to stand next to someone who does it. Join us at a community event and say hello.
The hardest part isn't the work. It's deciding to begin.
We hear the same hesitations from almost every person who eventually becomes one of our best volunteers. Read these honestly. Then decide.
“I don't have legal experience.”
You don't need any. We provide all 30 hours of training — most CASAs are teachers, retirees, ranchers, parents, nurses, and small-business owners.
“I'm worried about the time commitment.”
About 10 hours a month on average — visits, paperwork, and court hearings. You set the schedule that works around your life.
“What if it's too emotionally heavy?”
You're never alone. Our staff supports you every step, and we have a confidential burnout check-in tool built into our volunteer portal.
“What about my safety?”
Visits happen in safe, planned settings with staff support. Background checks and screening protect you and the children we serve.
Your gift trains the volunteer who shows up for one more child.
Every dollar trains, supports, and equips a CASA volunteer. 100% of your gift stays with the children of western Nebraska.
Give online in seconds
Tax-deductible. One-time or recurring. Use the QR or our donate page.
Quick from your phone
Scan and send — handy at events or after a community gathering.
A legacy for children
Bequests, IRA distributions, and estate gifts ensure children in western Nebraska have a CASA — long after we're here to ask.
- Wills & bequests
- IRA & retirement assets
- Stock & estate gifts
The stories that belong here are still being lived.
We will not publish testimonials we haven't earned the right to share. Real quotes — from CASAs, judges, and former foster youth — are coming as we collect them with full consent. If you've walked beside one of our volunteers and want to share what it meant, we'd be honored to hear from you.
Coming soon — a CASA in their own words.
Coming soon — how a CASA report shapes a courtroom.
Coming soon — what a steady adult meant.
Volunteers, donors, judges, schools, and a board of neighbors who refuse to look away.
PlainsWest CASA exists because western Nebraska refuses to let any child face the system alone. Meet the people behind the work.
A child in western Nebraska needs a voice. Be that voice.
One trained adult, showing up consistently, can change the trajectory of a childhood. That adult could be you.
501(c)(3) · Cheyenne · Kimball · Deuel counties