Abused and neglected children who wind up in foster care count on CASA volunteers to help them survive the complex maze of family court.

In Travis County, CASA short for Court Appointed Special Advocates suffered a setback after a volunteer was charged with numerous counts of sexual assault.

Here's how CASA is overcoming a tarnished image by re-focusing its efforts on behalf of children who are in foster care. A stack of cases awaits Judge Darlene Bryne as she reviews the status of children removed by Child Protective Services because of abuse or neglect.

Before deciding if custody is regained or lost, the judge hears from parents, prosecutors, caseworkers and CASA volunteers, like Pamala Gibreal.

As a Court Appointed Special Advocate, Gibreal's current case is heartbreaking. "I have a three year old little boy who was severely burned, 3rd degree burns on the lower part of his body," she said.

She is among 300 CASA volunteers from across the state who is attending a 3-day training session. In Travis County, the program is overcoming a tarnished image after a former CASA volunteer, Billy Dan Carroll, was charged with multiple counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child. Ironically, Carroll's pending criminal case is actually boosting recruitment.

"And we at CASA of Travis County saw more people come forward saying, 'Now is the time for me to volunteer you need good people. I want to be one of them,'" said Laura Wolfe, executive director of CASA of Travis County.

The 3-day workshop is in addition to a rigorous background check and 30 hours of mandatory training. Yet, volunteers say it is worth it, if it means helping a child. "It gives me great satisfaction that he's comfortable with me and when he sees me he knows that I'm there to protect him to advocate for his best interests," Gibreal said.

From the first hearing during which a child is placed into state custody- to the granting of an adoption - a CASA volunteer is the one consistent face who is there for each foster child.

Currently CASA of Travis County serves 700 youngsters, but there are nearly 200 children who need a volunteer advocate.