Our Empower Program
HISTORY
Established in 2020, Empower is a specialty program of CASA DC that provides court-involved youth who have experienced confirmed or suspected cases of human trafficking or sexual abuse with a CASA who can provide trauma-informed advocacy, mentorship, and support.
YOUTH SERVED
This program serves youth ages 11-21 either in the foster care system, juvenile justice system, or both. The youth served in Empower are primarily DC and MD residents and are English and Spanish speakers.
PROGRAM GOALS
The goals of the Empower program are to help youth increase their independence, build greater stability and support in their lives, and reduce the amount of time spent in abscondence. Through individualized support and meaningful connections, the program aims to guide youth toward long-term success and well-being.
PROGRAM IMPACT
​The Empower program currently serves approximately 30 youth at a time. In 2024, 87% of CASAs reported supporting youth well-being, 82% of participants have a trusted adult in their lives, and 87% are able to identify coping skills.
ADVOCATE PREREQUISITES
CASAs in the Empower program are required to complete 6 hours of additional training on top of the standard CASA training and receive specialized supervision to ensure quality advocacy for their youth. Empower CASAs provide trauma informed mentorship and advocacy to their youth.
Due to the nature of the Empower program, we generally accept volunteers 25 and older. We encourage volunteers to consider the potential level of vicarious trauma and any personal biases or triggers before accepting an Empower case.