"In 1977 Seattle Judge David Soukoup was concerned over making decisions about abused and neglected children's lives without sufficient information. He conceived of the idea of using trained community volunteers to speak for the best interests of these children in court. So successful was this Seattle program that soon judges across the country began utilizing citizen advocates. In 1990, the U.S. Congress encouraged the expansion of CASA with passage of the Victims of Child Abuse Act. Today more than 900 CASA program offices are in operation, with trained women and men serving as CASA volunteers."
"CASA volunteers are assigned to an abuse or neglect case by a judge. They conduct thorough research on the background of the case, reviewing documents, interviewing everyone involved, including the child. They make reports to the court, recommending what they believe is best for the child, providing the judge with information that will help her or him make an informed decision."
"CASA volunteers are instrumental in assuring that a child or family receives services which the court has ordered - things like substance abuse counseling or special education testing. During the life of a case, a CASA volunteer monitors the child's situation to make sure he remains safe. CASA volunteers may be the only constant the child knows as she moves through the labyrinth of the child welfare system."
Sources -
The National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association
Washington State CASA
Snohomish County CASA/VGAL Program
CASA Resource Links
