About Us

HISTORY OF CASA

The mission of Capital Area Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Association is to advocate for timely placement of children in permanent, safe and stable homes.  

In 1992, a group of concerned and dedicated individuals established Capital Area CASA Association in East Baton Rouge Parish as a private, non-profit organization. CASA recruits, screens, trains, and supervises community volunteers to serve as advocates for abused and neglected children. 

Since 1992, 1,568 CASA volunteers have provided a voice in court for 3,667 abused children in East Baton Rouge Parish. Capital Area CASA Association currently has 12 staff members and is a member of the Louisiana CASA and National CASA Associations.

The concept of using trained community volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children originated in 1977 in Seattle, Washington. Superior Court Judge David Soukup realized the need for advocates to speak up for these children. 

"As a judge I had to make tough decisions. I had to decide whether to take a child from the only home he's ever known, or leave him someplace where he might possibly be abused. I needed someone who could tell me what was best for that child - from the child's viewpoint. That's what CASA does."

Allison Lindsay Traxler, Executive Director

Allison joined CASA in May of 2022.  She has over 28 years of experience in non-profit communications and fundraising.  She has worked for two large human service non-profit organizations during her career and has a passion for giving back and a heart for serving others.  She is a native of Baton Rouge and has served on many local boards and looks forward to working at CASA and becoming an advocate for children.

"As a mother, I know how important it is for a child to have someone to confide in and to trust implicitly. When an abused or neglected child doesn't have that role model in their life, it is good to know that a CASA advocate can become that figure.  Just because we might not know the start of their story, doesn't mean CASA cant help to change the ending."

Ricketta Cotton-Monroe, Advocate Supervisor

After earning a Bachelor’s degree in Child and Family Studies from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Ricketta began her career serving children in need in Houston. After returning to Baton Rouge, she joined the CASA staff in March 2002. As an advocate supervisor, Ricketta oversees the advocacy efforts of CASA volunteers as they speak for the best interests of abused and neglected children.

"I believe that children are our most valuable resource; for that reason, permanency is a promise made to the children and families by the community at the time of intervention."

Sheila L. Scott, Advocate Supervisor

Sheila joined Capital Area CASA in 2006. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from Southern University, and her  professional experience includes work in court environments and children's case management. Her role as an advocate supervisor is to guide CASA volunteers' efforts as they work to help abused and neglected children reach permanent, safe and stable homes.

"Children are our future and we must find a way to protect them. CASA lends that helping hand to abused and neglected children."

Susan Murrell, Advocate Supervisor

Susan joined Capital Area CASA in January 2004. She brings several years of experience working with child victims of domestic violence to her position at CASA. Susan is passionate about her belief that children deserve safety, nurturing and a permanent home in which to grow and develop.

"Children can never have too many good people in their lives."

Sharon L. Norwood, Advocate Supervisor

A native of Alexandria, LA, Sharon joined Capital Area CASA in June 2008. Sharon graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Work from Northeast Louisiana University and has several years of experience working with children and mothers who are victims of domestic violence.

"Children are innocent and silent victims of abuse. Their voices are silenced and need to be heard. I believe CASA is an excellent resource to empower children to take their voices back."

Tony Pryer, Advocate Supervisor

Tony returned to Capital Area CASA in August 2019. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work from Southeastern Louisiana University. Tony brings over 20 years of experience working in the field of social services, specifically for children ages birth to 18-years-old. A native of Baton Rouge, Tony has worked for various non-profit organizations promoting the health, safety, and well-being of children who are otherwise left behind.  

"I chose to work for CASA because CASA’s mission aligns with my own personal values. I believe Nelson Mandela said it best when he said, 'Safety and security don't just happen, they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear.' "

Rachelle Smith, Business Coordinator

Rachelle joined Capital Area CASA in August 2020. She has an Associate of Arts Degree in Social Science from Baton Rouge Community College and is currently a senior at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette majoring in Health Services Administration. Rachelle comes to CASA with over two and a half years of experience as a training coordinator and three years experience as a certified clinical medical assistant. 

"Every child deserves to have someone to speak up for them when they cannot do it themselves. Joining CASA, I will stand behind its mission to make sure that every child has a voice, and for it to not be silence."

Karen Matherne, Business Development Director

Karen joined Capital Area CASA in May 2022 with over 20 years of experience in for-profit accounting, human resources and office procedures.   

“I always wondered why somebody doesn’t do something about that, then I realized that I was somebody.”

Jacqueline M. Wilson, Program Manager

Jacqueline first joined Capital Area CASA in May of 1997 as an Advocate Supervisor and eventually served as the first Program Manager. With over 20 years of CASA experience, she has served in numerous roles within the local, state and national CASA network, including seven years of providing technical assistance to CASA programs across Louisiana in her position as Program Operations Director with Louisiana CASA Association. Jacqueline is a lifelong advocate for victims, specializing in women and children’s issues.

"There is no magic in what we do, no silver bullet to fix everything. Our staff and volunteers are everyday people willing to put in the time and effort to make the world a better place for abused and neglected children; they make a conscious choice to make a difference every single day."