Who We Are

Kansas CASA

The Kansas CASA Association (KCA) is a network of 22 community-based programs that recruit, train and support citizen-volunteers to advocate in court for the best interests of abused and neglected children.  The KCA was incorporated in 1991 to enhance the success of local CASA programs so that victims of child abuse and neglect have volunteer advocates focused on their best interest when the children are in court. KCA has two full-time staff providing an array of services to local programs. 

Growth of the Association has benefited local programs through the following services:

Technical Assistance: 
We offer technical assistance to help programs serve more children more effectively and provide guidance and tools to assist with quality program management.

Statewide Website Management: 
We update and manage a statewide website that provides valuable information about CASA and its programs.  

Volunteer Recruitment and Awareness: 
We assist with coordinating volunteer recruitment efforts through social media and our statewide website. We also assist with raising awareness about child abuse and neglect.  We cultivate and maintain corporate partnerships to assist with public awareness. 

Legislative Advocacy: 
KCA advocates for improvements to the child welfare system and issues concerning local CASA programs.

Data Collection: 
We provide local programs with the most current upgraded version of a volunteer and case management system, to better track program outcomes and statistics pertaining to the children we serve.

Training: 
KCA provides annual training for CASA directors as well as training specific to local programs and their boards.

Resource Development and Grants: 
KCA provides pass-through funding to local CASA programs. Grant funding comes from a variety of sources, including the Kansas Department for Children and Families and IOLTA funds.

Assistance with the start-up of new programs: 
KCA provides information and guidance to those interested in starting a CASA program in a judicial district where there is no program.

CASA History

The CASA Movement

In 1977, a Seattle juvenile court judge, concerned about making drastic decisions with insufficient information, conceived the idea of citizen-volunteers speaking up in court for the best interests of abused and neglected children. From that first program has grown a network of more than 951 CASA and guardian ad litem programs that are recruiting, training and supporting volunteers in 49 states and the District of Columbia.

Key Moments in CASA History