Welcome to CASA!

Our guest speakers were Taryn Marko and Maureen Barrett from CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates).  Taryn is the program director for Winnebago County and Maureen has been an advocate for about three years, currently serving seven children.  CASA was started in 1977 by a Seattle, WA judge, David Soukup, who was concerned over making decisions about abused and neglected children’s lives without sufficient information. His idea was to use trained community volunteers to speak for the best interests of the children in court. The first case in Winnebago County was in 1987. CASA volunteers participate with the children to learn of their situation first hand and then deliver to the court their opinion on what steps need to be taken to assist the children in the best manner. The children don’t go to court, the CASA volunteers do. The advocates are considered a Guardian ad Litem (at Law).  Judges accept nearly all the CASA volunteers' recommendations.  CASA members are appointed individual cases based on their strengths and commitment time frame and visit with the children, their families, teachers, physicians and so on. Often they are the only consistent voice or contact in these children’s lives.  To volunteer, you need to be 21 or older with a High School diploma or GED.  As a volunteer, you are asked to complete training with judges, attorneys and other CASA staff and will be screened closely for commitment and objectivity, among other things. Last year CASA volunteers helped over 400 children but there are approximately 900 still waiting for an advocate.  Thank you to Taryn and Maureen and all the CASA volunteers for what they do to advocate for the children.