Judge David Soukup Encouraged by the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, new CASA programs began to develop around the country as judges began utilizing citizen advocates. In 1982, the National CASA Association was formed to unify the movement and provide leadership, as well as training and assistance to starting and expanding programs. 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 programs are in operation, with 42,400 women and men serving as CASA volunteers. CASA is an acronym for Court Appointed Special Advocate.
CASA volunteers come from all backgrounds.
Many work full time. Some are students or retired people. No legal expertise is required. As chairman of the National Commission on Children, I have observed judges in juvenile courts with a mere 10 to 15 minutes to decide whether a child should remain in a distressed family or placed in foster care. With growing caseloads, it's increasingly difficult for the courts and social workers to make the system work for families and children.