ABOUT US
“It terrified me to make decisions about kids when I didn’t have anybody there.” – Judge David W. Soukup
History of CASA
CASA was founded in 1977 by David Soukup, a Seattle judge who became concerned by how quickly decisions concerning the lives of abused and neglected children were being made when there was often a lack of detailed information.
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.
Our Vision
It is the goal of CASA of Crawford County, Inc. to have a volunteer advocate available to serve every abused and neglected child that enters foster care in our county.
Our Mission
The Mission of CASA of Crawford County, Inc. is to recruit, train, and support volunteer advocates who will serve to ensure safe and permanent homes for abused and neglected children in the community.
Our Work
CASA/GAL volunteers are appointed by judges to advocate for children’s best interests. They stay with each case until it is closed and the child is in a safe, permanent home. We serve children from birth through the age defined by state statute as the limit to youth remaining in care.
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Volunteers work with legal and child welfare professionals, educators and service providers to ensure that judges have all the information they need to make the most well-informed decisions for each child.
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Our best-interest advocacy is driven by the guiding principle that children grow and develop best with their family of origin, if that can be safely achieved. Most of the children we work with are in foster care, but some are with their family of origin. And, most children who leave foster care do so to return to their family.
