CASA for Kids of Austin, Waller and Washington Counties (CASA) is one of over 900 programs in 50 states affiliated with the National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association.  The local names of these programs vary, but they include:  Court Appointed Special Advocate, Guardian Ad Litem, Voices for Children, and Child Advocates.

The original Guardian Ad Litem program was established in 1977 in Seattle, Washington.  Judge David Soukup conceived of the idea that individual citizens could serve as representatives of the community to advocate for children who have no one to stand up for them once they are removed from their families because of abuse or neglect.  A trained force of volunteers was designed to serve one case at a time as the eyes, ears, and legs of the court to inform it about the child’s circumstances.  The volunteers are to see that the child’s best interests are served by placing the child as soon as feasible with his family or one in which he or she could attain adulthood in a safe, nurturing environment.

The phrase “permanency planning” refers to this kind of plan.  The goal of the child welfare/justice system process is to avoid lengthy stays in one foster family after another, which frequently occurred before reforms at the federal level were instituted.  As a result of a variety of studies, it was noted that a high proportion of juvenile offenders had been abused, neglected, placed often in foster families, and alienated in general through the lack of an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging and identity.

During the late 70s and early 80s, the concern for what happens to children left in the limbo of a temporary situation in foster care led to federal reform.  Model laws were developed at the national level.  Every state now has laws modeled after the national laws so that they can be eligible for federal funds.  In all states when children are removed from their families by the court and placed in foster care, someone is appointed to advocate for their best interests.

Usually this appointed person is an attorney Ad Litem, but in some states he/she may be a Court Appointed Special Advocate.  There must be a judicial review at least every 5-7 months on each case, and the state child protection agency must review its case plan for each child every 5-7 months.  In 1984, Public Law 96-272 was implemented.  This mandates that the Child Protective Service caseworkers must show the judge that an effort was made to avoid long-term removal of the child from his family and that a case plan discussed with the family sets forth the expectations the family must satisfy to ensure return of their children.

The National Counsel of Juvenile and Family Court Judges responded to the growing awareness of the problem of “foster care drift” by teaming up with the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation to seek reforms in the child welfare system.  This foundation granted funds to the national office of the National Council of Jewish Women to set up five pilot programs modeled after the Kings County Guardian Ad Litem program in Seattle.  In 1979, it was demonstrated in Dallas, TX; Harrisburg, PA; Worcester, MA; Jacksonville, FL; and St. Louis, MO that the Seattle program could be duplicated.  A start-up manual was published.  Similar programs were instituted in other localities:  some funded by the court system, some by the Junior League and National Council of Jewish Women and, increasingly, some through federal grants.

The national organization first met in 1982 with 25 groups represented was named “Court Appointed Special Advocate.”  Since then, the movement has spread throughout the country. 

CASA began as a community service project of the local section of the National Council of Jewish Women. The first volunteers were assigned in February 1984.  In 1988 CASA became a free-standing agency with its own Board of Directors.  The agency is supported by charitable organizations, corporate donations, government grants, individual donations, private foundation grants, and special events.

In Texas, there are now over 62 established programs and more are in the planning stage.  There is a state organization called Texas CASA, which serves as a state network, encourages the growth of new programs, and works on legislative issues as well.  In 1985, the state legislature passed a bill giving volunteers with court approved training the right to represent abused and neglected children in court.  This bill appears as a line in the Texas Family Code along with a provision for immunity from liability if CASA work is done in good faith.