King County Dependency CASA Program

Save to Favorites

About King County Dependency CASA Program - Seattle

Location:

1401 East Jefferson Ste 500, Seattle, WA 98122, US

Mission Statement

The mission of the King County Superior Court Dependency CASA Program is to recruit and train diverse community volunteers to represent the best interests of children who experience abuse and neglect in dependency proceedings. The primary obligation of this advocacy is to independently investigate the circumstances of the child and to formulate recommendations to the court.

Description

The King County Superior Court Dependency CASA Program was created to support the needs of abused and neglected children through the use of committed and caring community volunteers. The program was conceptualized in 1976 by the Honorable Judge David W. Soukup of King County Superior Court. Due to the success of the program many court jurisdictions throughout the country began replicating the Seattle model. A national association was formed in 1981 and the phrase Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) was adopted as a national designation for trained volunteers who advocate for abused and neglected children. Volunteer opportunities exist in Seattle as well as at the Regional Justice Center in South King County.