Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Hampden County trains community volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children in the court system. CASA volunteers are assigned to a child by a judge at Springfield or Holyoke Juvenile Courts. CASA volunteers conduct thorough research into the background of the case, review documents and interview everyone involved, including the child as appropriate. They submit written reports to the court, recommending what they believe is best for the child, providing the judge with the information to make an informed decision. Advocate training consists of a 35-hour pre-service training as well as ongoing in-service training on relevant topics. Volunteers receive support and assistance from Volunteer Coordinators on staff throughout the life of the case.