“It takes all of us, a village of everyday people, to stand up and commit to making a meaningful difference in the lives of abused and neglected children. It starts very simply with one volunteer at a time.”

Judge Glenda A. Hatchett

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National CASA Movement

Mission

The mission of the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association, together with its state and local members, is to support and promote court-appointed volunteer advocacy for abused and neglected children so they can thrive in safe, permanent homes.

History

CASA's inception dates back to 1977, when a Seattle judge, concerned over making decisions about abused and neglected children's lives without sufficient information, conceived a way to ensure their placement in a safe and loving environment. His idea to train community volunteers to speak for the best interests of children in court was so successful that, soon, judges across the country began utilizing citizen advocates.

In 1990, the US Congress encouraged CASA programs' expansion with the passage of the Victims of Child Abuse Act. Today, more than 1,018 CASA program offices operate in 49 states. Approximately 83% of CASA programs have been active for more than a decade.

Taken from the National CASA website

Last year, more than 68,000 CASA volunteers served more than 240,000 abused and neglected children.

CASA volunteers have helped more than two million abused children since the first program was established in 1977.