YWCA La Crosse’s Court Appointed Special advocates or “CASA for Kids” program provides professional training and supervision for volunteer advocates who support children involved in the courts as a result of abuse and neglect.
Children who have experienced abuse or neglect fare better with a CASA/GAL volunteer by their side. Studies have shown:
History
CASA was created in 1977 by a judge who needed more information about the lives of abused and neglected children before he could make important decisions regarding their futures. His solution was to use trained volunteers to track the progress of children in the court system and report back regularly to the judge. Today CASA Programs are in all 50 states of the United States and in the Virgin Islands. The program was established locally in 1999 in La Crosse County and has since grown to also serve children in Vernon and Monroe counties.