Technology that Meets a Mission

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/Prince George’s County has launched its first-ever online volunteer management system with the help of Ruby for Good, a technology-based philanthropy that creates free software solutions for nonprofits serving critical missions. The open-sourced app, called CASA Volunteer Tracking, seeks to transform the volunteer-hour tracking process by eliminating the additional hassle of physical paper logs and manual data entry.

CASA, a nonprofit that matches children in the foster care system to trained volunteer advocates, has been renowned for its nearly twenty-year legacy of service and family empowerment within Prince George’s County.

CASA Volunteer Tracking is a project initiated by one of CASA’s very own former volunteers, Polly Schandorf. Drawing from her own experience with CASA as reason to return with this new project, Schandorf says, “It's always been in my heart that I wanted to come back and help more children. And now, instead of being able to be a CASA volunteer for one child, I'm able to help supervisors manage volunteers better so that we have the capacity to help even more kids.”

From humble beginnings last March as a wish for more efficiency in the volunteer tracking system to an eight month-long endeavor that has since gained over 60 contributors from across the world, Ruby for Good has amassed a powerful force that empowers CASA to invest more time in serving youth on the ground and less time in administrative data entry.

“Not everybody can be a CASA volunteer, but everybody can make a difference. We are grateful to Ruby for Good for their partnership and diligent work with CASA to support our youth in a way that makes all our work easier,” says CASA Executive Director, Ann Marie Binsner.

The CASA Volunteer Tracking app is undergoing continual improvements with bug fixes and new features added weekly. Ruby for Good is looking for other CASA programs to help them build more features! If any other CASAs are in need of software for volunteer tracking, please see the Ruby for Good website at rubyforgood.org to get involved.

About Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)/Prince George’s County, Inc.

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)/Prince George's County is a volunteer-based organization that partners with the juvenile court to improve the lives of children living in foster care who have suffered from abuse and neglect. With a strong commitment to diversity, CASA trains and supervises volunteers from the community who advocate for the best interest of children, recognizing and respecting each child's individual needs. By providing a voice to children in the foster care system, CASA’s goal is to help children and promote the timely placement of those we serve in safe, permanent homes.

To volunteer with CASA, call 301-209-0491 or go to www.pgcasa.org.