The Sunflower CASA Project
Court-Appointed Special Advocates are volunteers from many different backgrounds who give their time to advocate for abused and neglected children in the court system. Our program is based on the principle that each child deserves a safe, permanent, nurturing home where they can thrive. Our volunteers are the difference between abuse and hope.
The History of CASA
The CASA movement began in 1977 when Judge David Soukup of Seattle, Washington, conceived of the idea of trained community volunteers advocating for abused and neglected children. Judge Soukup felt he did not have sufficient information to make informed decisions in cases involving children. From his vision, CASA has spread across the country. There are now over 900 CASA programs nationwide with over 70,000 child advocates! Since its inception in 1977, CASA volunteers have advocated from more than 1,000,000 abused and neglected children.
The first CASA program in Kansas was developed in 1981 in Wichita, KS. In 1988 Sunflower CASA Project began in Riley county. Our program then branched out to Clay county in 1991 serving all of the 21st Judicial district. Then in 2001 we expanded again to Pottawatomie county, a member of the 2nd Judicial district.
Current CASA News
In 2008 Sunflower CASA Project volunteers advocated for and served 138 children who had been abused and neglected in Riley, Clay, and Pottawatomie counties.
In addition to core CASA services, Sunflower CASA Project is the umbrella organization for Sunflower Bridge Child Exchange and Visitation Center and Stepping Stones Child Advocacy Center. All of our programs are dedicated to providing high quality services and advocacy to children in our community.
Summer training is set to begin June 16, 2009! Training will be held at the Alan Lee Center, 621 Humboldt and will begin at 6:00 p.m. Please call the office if you are interested in being a part of summer training!
CYCLE CASA has been scheduled for May 30th - please join us for a day of cycling to support CASA!
MotorCYCLE CASA is scheduled for August 9, 2009 - please see our fundraising page for more information!