Lynne M. Chambers Educational Counselor, GEAR-UP Southeast Missouri State University Cape Girardeau, Missouri Community Service Project The Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Program that began in 1977 in Seattle, Washington, has been replicated in over 900 locations throughout the United States. While there are 27 sites in the state of Illinois, currently the southernmost area of the state does not have a program, but this initiative will remedy that situation by introducing the program. The purpose of CASA is to train volunteers to advocate for children. Volunteers are adults, 21 years of age or older, high school graduates, and a non offender. CASA volunteers investigate each child's individual situation and make recommendations that reflect the best interests of the child. The target community in southern Illinois has one of the highest rates of child abuse and neglect in the entire state, and African Americans are disproportionately represented in the juvenile justice system. The projected outcomes of the program are to reduce the time children spend in placement and to increase the permanency of placement.