Arizona Superior Court in Pima County
Thursday, April 29, 2021 by Superior Court
CASA of Pima County announces the appointment of Program Supervisor Amy Brandhuber to the Urban Leadership Council as well as the National Leadership Council of the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Association for Children.
“Leadership councils are a vital part of our efforts to serve more children in the foster care system while continually improving their outcomes,” said National CASA/GAL Chief Executive Officer Tara Lisa Perry. “We are so excited and grateful to have Amy Brandhuber providing her insight and expertise as we strive to move our mission forward on behalf of all children who have experienced abuse or neglect.”
Brandhuber, who will serve a two-year term in each role, will join child welfare leaders from across the nation to play an essential role in voicing the unique needs of the 948 local CASA programs that make up the National CASA/GAL network. Altogether in 2019, local programs, with their approximately 97,000 volunteers, served more than 270,000 children who have experienced abuse and neglect. Both the Urban Leadership and National Leadership Councils will help sharpen CASA/GAL’s focus of ensuring the network achieves its mission of improving outcomes for all children and families through best-interest advocacy.
Brandhuber, who earned her bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies from the University of Arizona and her master’s of public administration and policy from American University, has been the program supervisor for CASA of Pima County since 2018. She previously worked with the Department of Child Safety as both an investigator and ongoing unit supervisor and has spent almost 25 years working with at-risk youth.
“I am so honored to be appointed to this important national role,” said Brandhuber. “As a member of the Tucson community, I’m looking forward to bringing our successes and challenges to a network that will help us advance while we increase CASA’s reach nationwide.”
The only program of its kind, CASA volunteers are appointed by the court to provide children with one-on-one advocacy. They see their assigned children regularly and offer both mentorship and a constant adult presence. CASA advocates give judges the critical information necessary to ensure the child’s rights and needs are being supported, and remain in their lives until they are placed in a permanent loving home. Volunteers are trained and supported by dedicated staff, who provide guidance and assistance every step of the way.
In 2020, CASA of Pima County served over 300 children. They urgently need many more mentor-advocates to help ensure each of the 3,000 youth in foster care throughout our county have the support they so desperately need.
“Our 200 volunteers are some of the most amazing people I have had the honor to work with, and they help change children’s stories daily,” stated Brandhuber.
To join the CASA of Pima County team or learn more about the program, visit casaofpimacounty.org or call (520) 724-2060.