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.

Current CASA News

Attention volunteers! We created a new website to keep you informed about what's going on a Sunflower CASA Project. The site includes information about upcoming events, in-service opportunities, and resources. Click here to visit the site!
Clarissa Howley is the volunteer of the month for January 2010! Clarissa has been a CASA volunteer since May 2007. In her time with CASA Clarissa has served four cases, and is currently serving two cases involving a total of five children. Thank you Clarissa for being the difference between abuse and hope!
Spring training will begin on Monday, February 8, 2010 from 6-9 p.m. and continue on Monday nights through March 29th (there will be no training on Monday, March 15th due to K-State's spring break). Training will be held at First United Methodist Church (612 Poyntz) in the basement classroom (enter through the door in the alley). Please contact us at sunfcasa@interkan.net, 785-537-6367, or visit the "join our team" section of the website for more information or to learn about our independent study training option. There is a child waiting for your voice!
In 2009 Sunflower CASA Project volunteers advocated for and served 171 children who had been abused and neglected in Riley, Clay, and Pottawatomie counties (a 24% increase from 2008). Click here to read our 2009 Annual Report.
The next book club book is Sickened by Julie Gregory. It is about Munchausen by Proxy, which is a condition that involves the exaggeration or fabrication of illness by a caregiver. Book club will be held on April 22, 2010.
We have an abundance of children's books at the CASA office. Volunteers can feel free to stop by and pick up books to give to their CASA children. We also have several winter coats available.

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.