History
In 1977, a Seattle Superior Court Judge named David Soukup was concerned about trying to make decisions on behalf of abused and neglected children without enough information. He conceived the idea of appointing community volunteers to speak up for the best interests of these children in court. He made a request for volunteers; 50 citizens responded, and that was the start of the Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) movement. Today, there are more than 77,000 advocates serving in more than 930 state and local program offices nationwide. CASA/GAL programs across the country are known by several different names, including Guardian ad Litem, Child Advocates and Voices for Children. Since the inception of CASA/GAL advocacy, volunteers have helped well over 1,000,000 children find safe, permanent homes in which they can thrive.
In North Carolina, the Guardian ad Litem program started in 1983. Orange and Chatham Counties together are considered District 15B.
In 1977, a Seattle Superior Court Judge named David Soukup was concerned about trying to make decisions on behalf of abused and neglected children without enough information. He conceived the idea of appointing community volunteers to speak up for the best interests of these children in court. He made a request for volunteers; 50 citizens responded, and that was the start of the Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) movement. Today, there are more than 77,000 advocates serving in more than 930 state and local program offices nationwide. CASA/GAL programs across the country are known by several different names, including Guardian ad Litem, Child Advocates and Voices for Children. Since the inception of CASA/GAL advocacy, volunteers have helped well over 1,000,000 children find safe, permanent homes in which they can thrive.
In North Carolina, the Guardian ad Litem program started in 1983. Orange and Chatham Counties together are considered District 15B.