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Our History

Our History

We’ve been standing up for children since 1977.

About Us

It was a judge’s idea

Inspiration came to Seattle juvenile court judge David W. Soukup in 1976.

Judge Soukup had insufficient information to make a life-changing decision for a 3-year-old girl who had suffered from child abuse.

That’s where the idea came from: These children, who had experienced abuse or neglect, needed trained volunteers speaking up in the courtroom for their best interests.

“It terrified me to make decisions about kids when I didn’t have anybody there.” - Judge David W. Soukup

“It terrified me to make decisions about kids when I didn’t have anybody there.” – Judge David W. Soukup

 

“When I walked into the lunchroom, there were 50 people there. And I said, ‘This is going to work.’”

– Judge Soukup on the first CASA/GAL meeting, thinking six or seven people would show up

The History of the CASA/GAL Movement

1977

The Honorable Judge Soukup starts the first CASA/GAL program in Seattle (King County), Washington.

1977

A National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges committee endorses the program as a model for safeguarding a child’s rights to a safe and permanent family.

1978

Judge John F. Mendoza of Nevada suggests the term “court-appointed special advocate” to designate the lay court-appointed volunteers.

1982

The first Annual CASA Conference is held in Nevada, and participants vote to establish the National CASA Association.

1982

The number of CASA/GAL programs reaches 88.

1983

Twenty-nine states have CASA/GAL programs.

1984

The National CASA Association forms in Seattle.

1984

National CASA enters into its first cooperative agreement with the U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, which remains our largest funder to date.

1985

President Ronald Reagan presents National CASA with the President’s Volunteer Action Award.

1985

10,000 children served annually through 159 programs.

1987

40,000 children served by 12,000 volunteers in 271 local programs and 44 states.

1988

Tribal courts first begin CASA programs through grants to five tribes.

1989

National CASA becomes Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation’s national charity.

1990

72,000 children served by 17,000 volunteers in 412 program offices.

1991

The CASA program is first authorized in the Victims of Child Abuse Act.

1995

129,000 children served by 38,000 volunteers in 642 program offices.

1996

Congress amends the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to allow the required GAL to be an attorney or CASA volunteer.

The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), originally enacted in 1974, establishes national definitions regarding child abuse and neglect and assigns certain responsibilities to the federal government, particularly relating to data collection and technical assistance.

1997

The National Bar Association endorses CASA volunteer advocacy.

2000

174,000 children served by 47,000 volunteers in 900 program offices.

2003

National CASA’s partnership with Jewelers for Children, our largest private funder, begins.

2007

CASA network reaches 2 million children served since inception.

2015

Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm serving clients and communities across the Americas, intensified its philanthropic and pro bono legal efforts with a $1 million pledge to the National CASA Association.

2016

National CASA Association opens an office in Washington, D.C.

2016

The first annual Akerman Academic Excellence Scholarship award is given to a youth in foster care to assist with college expenses.

2017

National CASA celebrates its 35th anniversary.

2018

The number of CASA/GAL volunteers across the country increased by nearly 10 percent, to 93,300, facilitating best interest advocacy to 271,800 children and youth through 950 programs.

2019

As part of the Change a Child’s Story™ awareness campaign, National CASA Association changes its name to National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian Ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Association for Children.

2019

Kappa Alpha Theta fulfills its $1 million pledge.

2019

National CASA/GAL Association opens an office in Atlanta, Georgia.

2021

The first Walk Run Thrive event kicks off.

2021

Congress designates May 18, 2021, as CASA/GAL Volunteer’s Day.

2022

National CASA/GAL celebrates 40 years of impact.

More than 40 years later, with the number of children in the system on the rise, we need volunteers more than ever.

Learn More