History of CASA
History of CASA Project of Lexington
Frequently Asked Questions about CASA
In 1976, Superior Court Judge David Soukup of Seattle, WA, saw a recurring problem in his courtroom:
"In criminal and civil cases, even though there were always many different points of view, you walked out of the courthouse at the end of the day and you said, 'I've done my best; I can live with this decision,' he explains.
But when you're involved with a child and you're trying to decide what to do to facilitate that child's growth into a mature and happy adult, you don't feel like you have sufficient information to allow you to make the right decision. You can't walk away and leave them at the courthouse at 4 o'clock. You wonder, 'Do I really know everything I should? Have I really been told all of the different things? Is this really right?'"
To ensure he was getting all the facts and the long-term welfare of each child was being represented, the Seattle judge came up with an idea that would change America's judicial procedure and the lives of over a million children. He obtained funding to recruit and train community volunteers to step into courtrooms on behalf of the children: Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers.
This unique concept was implemented in Seattle as a pilot program in January 1977. During that first year, the program provided 110 trained CASA volunteers for 498 children in 376 dependency cases.
In 1978 the National Center of State Courts selected the Seattle program as the "best national example of citizen participation in the juvenile justice system." This recognition, along with a grant from the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation of New York City (one of CASA's earliest and strongest supporters), resulted in the replication of the Seattle CASA program in courts across the country.
As CASA projects developed, each new local program director made an on-site visit to the original Seattle host program for observation and training. By 1982 it was clear that a national association was needed to direct CASA's emerging national presence. The National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association was formed that year.
By 1984 the National CASA Association received financial support from several significant sources: the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, under the direction of the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation.
National CASA also receives support from the Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation. This international women's fraternity selected CASA as its philanthropy and has provided funds for a variety of projects, including start-up grants and a public awareness video.
The Association opened its national headquarters office in Seattle, Washington, in the summer of 1984, and launched a membership and fundraising drive.
On April 22, 1985, President Ronald Reagan presented the National CASA Association with the President's Volunteer Action Award for "outstanding volunteer contribution, demonstrating accomplishment through voluntary action. "In August of 1989, the American Bar Association, the country's largest professional organization of attorneys, officially endorsed the use of CASA volunteers to work with attorneys to speak for abused and neglected children in court.
In July of 1990, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges named CASA "Outstanding Volunteer Program" in America's juvenile and family courts.
Also during that year the U.S. Congress authorized the expansion of CASA with the passage of the “Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990” (P.L. 101-647), so that a “court-appointed special advocate shall be available to every victim of child abuse or neglect in the United States that needs such an advocate.”
The U.S. Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect included utilization of CASA and GAL volunteers among critical first steps recommended to bring the “national emergency” of child abuse and neglect in America today under control.
In July of 1991, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, U.S. Depart-ment of Justice, named CASA an "Exemplary National Program in Juvenile Delinquency Prevention."
In December of 1992, David Soukup, founder of CASA, was recognized with an award from the Caring Institute of Washington, D.C. Also in 1992, Congress initiated funding of a grants program to expand CASA representation of abused and neglected children.
Today the National CASA Association represents 930 CASA programs across the country, including Washington, DC and the U.S. Virgin Islands. National CASA provides support for starting programs, technical assistance, training, and fundraising, media, and public awareness services.
History of CASA Project of Lexington
In 1986 Don Paris, then a District Court Judge, attended the National Judicial College in Reno, Nevada. There he participated in a workshop on CASA. He embraced the concept and he returned to Lexington determine to develop a program. Working with Sue Timmons, Dependency Coordinator for Juvenile Court Services, they developed the CASA Project of Lexington. On February 15, 1990 the CASA Project adopted the Friend of Court Model. In this model the judge utilizes the CASA as an impartial observer to serve as the eyes and ears of the court.
Currently, the CASA Project of Lexington has 70 volunteers serving 189 children and 85 families in Fayette County
A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer is a trained citizen who is appointed by a judge to represent the best nterests of a child in court. Children helped by CASA volunteers are involved in the Family Court system because they have been removed from their home due to abuse or neglect.
A CASA volunteer provides a judge with carefully researched background details about the child to help the court make a sound decision about that child's future. Each home placement case is as unique as the child involved. The CASA volunteer must determine if the best interest of the child is staying with their parents or guardians, being placed in foster care, or being freed for permanent adoption. The CASA volunteer makes a recommendation on placement to the judge and follows through on the case until it is permanently resolved.
To prepare a recommendation, the CASA volunteer talks with the child, parents, family members, social workers, school officials, health providers and others who are knowledgeable about the child's history. The CASA volunteer also reviews all records pertaining to the child-school, medical, caseworker reports and other documents.
Social workers generally are employed by state governments sometimes working on as many as 60 to 90 cases at a time; they are frequently unable to conduct a comprehensive investigation of each case. The CASA volunteer has more time and a smaller caseload (average of 1-2 cases) to investigate a case. The CASA volunteer does not replace a social worker on a case; they are an independent appointee of the court. The CASA volunteer thoroughly examines a child's case, knows about various community resources and makes recommendations to the court independent of state agency restrictions.
The CASA volunteer does not provide legal representation in the courtroom-that is the role of the attorney. However, the CASA volunteer does provide crucial background information that assists attorneys in presenting their cases. It is important to remember that CASA volunteers do not represent a child's wishes in court. Rather, they speak for the child's best interests.
CASA volunteers come from all walks of life and possess a variety of professional, educational and ethnic backgrounds. There are more than 70,000 CASA volunteers nationally. Local programs vary in number of volunteers they utilize. Aside from their CASA volunteer work, 64 percent are employed in full- or part-time jobs; the majority tends to be professionals with 58% college or university graduates. The majority (82%) of the volunteers nationwide are women.
How do CASA volunteers advocate for children?
CASA volunteers offer children trust and advocacy during complex legal proceedings. They help explain to the child the events happening involving the case, reasons they are in court and the roles of the judge, lawyers and caseworkers. While remaining objective observers, CASA volunteers also encourage the child to express his or her own opinion and hopes about the case.
How many cases does a CASA volunteer carry at a time?
Typically CASA volunteers will carry only one case at a time. As that case nears completion or activity is low, a volunteer may receive a second case after careful consultation with their staff supervisor.
Do lawyers, judges and social caseworkers support CASA?
Yes. Fayette County Family Court Judges appoint CASA volunteers. They, as well as local representatives of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, have expressed their desire to see CASA grow. CASA has been endorsed by the American Bar Association, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Does the federal government support CASA?
CASA is a priority project of the Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The office encourages the establishment of new CASA programs, assists established CASA programs, and provides partial funding for the National CASA Association.
There are now 930 CASA programs in every state across the country, including Washington DC and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
How effective are CASA programs?
Findings show that children who have been assigned CASA volunteers tend to spend less time in court and less time in the foster care system than those who do not have CASA representation. Judges have observed that CASA advocated children also have better chances of finding permanent homes.
How much time is required to volunteer?
Each case is different. A CASA volunteer usually spends about 10 hours doing research and conducting interviews prior to the first court appearance. More complicated cases take longer. Once initiated into the system, volunteers work about 10 hours a month.
How long does a CASA volunteer remain involved?
The volunteer continues until the case is permanently resolved. One of the primary benefits of the CASA program is that, unlike other court principals who often rotate cases, the CASA volunteer is a consistent figure in the proceedings and provides continuity for a child. To ensure stability, the CASA Project of Lexington asks its volunteers for a minimal commitment of one year.
Are there other agencies or groups providing a similar service?
No. There are other child advocacy organizations, but CASA is the only program where volunteers are appointed by the court to represent a child's best interests.
What children are assigned CASA volunteers?
Every child with an assigned CASA volunteer are in the Family Court system and have been removed from their home due to abuse or neglect. Because CASA can only serve a portion of the Court's current caseload, cases are assigned at the discretion of the presiding judge.
What does the National CASA Association provide?
The National CASA Association is a nonprofit organization that represents and serves the local CASA programs. It provides training, technical assistance, research, media and public awareness services to members.
The CASA Project of Lexington, Inc. is funded by a unique combination of public and private funds. The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government provides in-kind support, such as office space, and employ's the Program Director. Other staff and program expenses are funded by grants, corporate sponsorships, and individual gifts. The National CASA Association is funded through a combination of private grants, federal funds (U.S. Justice Department), memberships and contributions.
How can I find the CASA program in my community?
CASA programs are known by a variety of names, including Guardian ad Litem, ProKids, Child Advocates, Inc., and Voices for Children, to name a few. If you live outside the Lexington area and cannot find a program in your area, contact the National CASA Association for referral.
To become a volunteer in Lexington, please visit our Volunteer section. Outside Lexington, please visit the National CASA site by clicking the link below.
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CASA Project of Lexington 115 Cisco Road Lexington, KY 40504 Phone: (859) 253-1581 Contact Us
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National CASA Association 100 West Harrison Street North Tower, Suite 500 Seattle, WA 98119 Phone: (206) 270-0072 or (800) 628-3233 Fax: (206) 270-0078 Web: www.nationalcasa.org |
Copyright © 1999 National CASA Association/CASA of Lexington. All rights reserved.
Revised: January 12, 2006.