History
CASA in Louisiana
The first CASA program in Louisiana began in 1986 in Orleans Parish. In 2000, there were only 12 programs that provided CASA services in 39% of judicial districts in the entire state of Louisiana, with 640 advocates serving 1,705 children. Thanks to TANF funding starting in 2001, the number of CASA programs in Louisiana increased dramatically. By 2007, there were 16 active CASA programs providing CASA Services to 76% of judicial districts with efforts underway to serve an additional two judicial districts before the end of 2008.
Statistics for 2007 indicate 1,437 advocates served 3,873 abused and neglected children; 1,414 of those children were placed in permanent family homes. Advocates reporting donated hours of service valued at $4.048 million. Louisiana shares National CASA Association’s goal – an advocate for every child who needs one.
Louisiana CASA Association (LACASA) grew out of an informal association of CASA program directors throughout the state. In 1994, LACASA was incorporated as a private 501(c)(3) organization. Membership is open to all CASA programs active in Louisiana that are members of National CASA. Membership categories include CASA volunteer, individual, associate, CASA program and honorary. All existing CASA programs are members of NCASAA and LACASA, and participate in the organization’s activities. There are 3 full-time LACASA staff who administer the state program.
The Board of Directors of LACASA is elected by the membership. Officers include president, vice president, secretary and treasurer, and are elected by the Board of Directors from among its ranks. The Board meets several times annually. Louisiana CASA is funded by the National CASA Association, Children’s Justice Act, TANF, and membership fees.
History of CASA
Each year, over 500,000 children in the United States are thrust into court through no fault of their own. Some are victims of violence, psychological torment or sexual abuse.
Others have been neglected or even abandoned by their own parents. Most of them are frightened and confused.
CASA was founded in 1977 by a Juvenile Court Judge in Seattle, Washington. Children are in foster care because they have been abused, neglected or abandoned by their parents or other caretakers, and it is up to a judge to decide their future. Should they remain in foster care? Be reunited with their families? Or be adopted? What services are available to them?
In many cases, these children become victims a second time, lost in an overburdened child welfare system that cannot pay close attention to each child whose life is in its hands. That is where CASA comes in. Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) are trained volunteer community members who are appointed by a judge to advocate, on a one-to-one basis, for a child who has been abused, neglected or abandoned, or who is otherwise at-risk.
The volunteer gets to know the child and then lets the judge and others in the system know the child’s perspective and the child’s needs. Recent studies have shown that the presence of one stable, supportive adult in a child’s life can profoundly affect that child’s future for the better– underscoring the effectiveness of the CASA concept.