Over 2500 abused and/or neglected Pima County children are in foster care through no fault of their own. They all need adults like you, who are willing to stand up and advocate for their best interest and ensure their needs are met. Often times, these children have multiple case managers, therapists, and placements lacking one consistent adult. Research has confirmed that one positive adult relationship changes a child’s outcomes dramatically thus providing for a brighter future. Unfortunately, the vast majority of foster children in Pima County don’t have an advocate. Court Appointed Special Advocates are everyday people that come from all backgrounds and experiences. They are ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Learn about the CASA Program and how to become an advocate.Biography ~ Amy Brandhuber
Since September of 2017, Amy Brandhuber has been the Program Supervisor for the Pima County Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program. Before her work with CASA, she was an investigator and a supervisor for the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) from 2005-2017. During her time with DCS, she investigated allegations of child abuse and neglect and supervised case managers who work directly with parents. Amy was directly involved in the development of the Pima County Juvenile Court Dependency Alternative Program which seeks to provide families effective legal solutions and avoid unnecessary court and child welfare involvement. The Dependency Alternative Program won the 2017 Arizona Supreme Court award for Protecting, Children, Families and Communities. Additionally, focused on efficiency and improving outcomes, Amy developed the Indian Child Welfare Act Voluntary Foster Care Placement Protocol used by the Department of Child Safety. Amy’s almost 14 years of work in the child welfare system have fueled her passion for child advocacy and drives her work with CASA volunteers to advocate for the best interest of children in foster care.
Amy grew up in Tucson and graduated from Salpointe Catholic High School and the University of Arizona. Congressman Jim Kolbe selected Amy to be an intern in his Washington, D.C. office during college. She earned her Master’s in Public Administration and Policy from American University. She is a Paul Harris Fellow and was inducted into the Pi Alpha Alpha National Honor Society for Public Affairs and Administration in 2017. Amy is a firm believer that each of us has something to offer the children of Pima County and we can accomplish better outcomes for abused and neglected children through positive adult relationships.
