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History of CASA
Seattle juvenile court judge David W. Soukup had insufficient information to make a life-changing decision for a 3-year-old girl who had suffered from child abuse.
He asked the public for help to come up with a better way of serving children.
1976
Judge Soukup starts the first CASA program in Seattle, WA.
1977
“While sitting at juvenile court, I never got a night’s sleep without waking to wonder if at least one decision I made that day had been the best for a child. It struck me that it might be possible to recruit and train volunteers to investigate a child’s case so they could provide a voice for the child in those proceedings, proceedings which could affect their whole lives.”
-Judge David W. Soukup, Founder of CASA
Judge John F. Mendoza of Nevada suggests the term “court-appointed special advocate” to designate the lay court-appointed volunteers.
1978
The National CASA Association forms in Seattle.
1984
Pilot programs in Multnomah and Josephine counties prompted the Oregon Legislature to pass a law mandating that every abused and neglected child in protective custody is entitled to the help of a CASA volunteer.
1987
CASA officially comes to Yamhill County.
1992
CASA Yamhill Co. became an independent 501c3 as it started out under the umbrella of YCAP.
1995
We are among the longest-serving programs in the state and currently serve 70% of eligible children.
There are roughly 125 children living in the foster care system in Yamhill County at any given time.
Present
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