In 1977, the concept of the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program was introduced in Seattle, Washington. Seattle Juvenile Court Judge David W. Soukup realized that children who entered the legal system due to abuse or neglect in their own homes were often inadvertently re-victimized by courts and public social service agencies who were over-burdened, understaffed and woefully lacking in resources. Although lawyers typically represented the interests of the parents and the state, seldom did someone speak exclusively for the child, the party who arguably had the most at stake in the proceeding. The child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act that was enacted in 1974 prompted states to adopt legislation that provided representation for the child's best interests during judicial proceedings, attorney guardians ad litem generally did not have the time, training nor resources to conduct the kind of in-depth fact-finding needed to represent the best long term interests of children.

Once Judge Soukup recognized the problem, he looked to community volunteers for a solution. He personally recruited and trained volunteers to serve as guardians ad litem for children who entered the child welfare system.

The idea caught the attention and approval of the Children in Placement Committee of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and in 1978 the Committee adopted the model as one means for safeguarding the rights of children. Trained community volunteers who were being trained to gather relevant facts and to speak up for children in the courtroom came to be known as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).

CASA programs began to develop nationwide and in 2006 more than 58,000 women and men involved in 958 CASA programs spoke for 220,129 children as CASA volunteers. More than 15,000 new volunteers were trained nationwide in 2006, and more than 70,000 new children were assigned to GAL/CASA volunteers nationwide in 2006. All states, including Indiana, have enacted statutes addressing the need for the appointment of an independent voice to speak for children in court proceedings. In 2006, over 2,000 active CASA volunteers contributed an estimated 343,722 hours of time in 12,886 cases involve 17,482 children in Indiana Courts.

CASA in Indiana has grown over the years. In 1989, the Indiana General Assembly established an office of Guardian Ad Litem and Court Appointed Special Advocate services to be administered through the Division of State Court Administration. Through this program, counties are encouraged to provide appropriate GAL/CASA services by receiving matching state funding administered by the Division and disbursed pursuant to a statutory formula. In addition, the state office provides training and support services for local GAL/CASA programs. An advisory commission, which includes program directors and judges appointed by the Indiana Supreme Court, provides guidance. The Advisory Commission has been involved in strategic planning over the past two years, setting goals and objectives for the Office of GAL/CASA as well as for the statewide network. In addition, the Advisory Commission, upon the recommendation of staff, certifies local programs through a voluntary process by which local programs are certified to meet certain minimum standards for their operation, recruitment and training of volunteers.

Indiana law requires the appointment of either a guardian ad litem or a trained court appointed special advocate in abuse and neglect cases. Moreover, if a child becomes the subject of a petition to terminate the parent/child relationship and the parent objects, the court shall appoint a guardian ad litem or CASA for the child. In addition to the abuse and neglect cases, Indiana law allows for and Indiana courts are now frequently appointing CASA volunteers in custody and paternity cases. Although of the number of volunteers who provide an invaluable service to Indiana trial courts is remarkable, the need for more volunteers is ongoing.

For more information regarding the opportunity to serve as a volunteer CASA or Guardian ad Litem, contact the Office of GAL/CASA, Division of State Court Administration.