About CASA
Capital Area CASA has proudly served abused and neglected children in East Baton Rouge Parish since 1992
History of Capital Area 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, over 1,500 CASA volunteers have provided a voice in court for 3,667 abused children in East Baton Rouge Parish. Capital Area CASA Association currently has 11 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."
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- Judge David Soukup