Our 2020-2021 Fiscal Year Audit Report and Management Letter from the Auditor
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The History of CASA - Court Appointed Special Advocates
In 1977, a Seattle juvenile court judge concerned about making drastic decisions with insufficient information conceived the idea of citizen volunteers speaking up for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the courtroom. From that first program has grown a network of nearly 1,000 CASA and guardian ad litem programs that are recruiting, training and supporting volunteers in 49 states and the District of Columbia.

The strategic objectives of CASA are as follows:
  • Every court in the United States recognizes that a CASA/GAL volunteer is essential for a successful outcome for children
  • Our volunteer base reflects the diversity and cultural makeup of children in the system
  • Every potential donor understands the importance of our mission, and places it at the top of their priority list
  • Every government official at the local, state, tribal and federal level understands the far-reaching results a CASA/GAL volunteer can achieve, and places our work at the top of their agenda
  • Every child can thrive in the safe embrace of a loving family

The History of Our Program
The initial development of CASA of Stanislaus County was encouraged by Judges Marie Silveira and William Mayhew in 2002. The Superior Court CEO, Mike Tozzi, (along with Judges Silveira and Mayhew) became champions for the development our program and with the  cooperation and support of all of the Judges helped recruit and develop our initial Board of Directors.  

Led by our first Board President, Dave Halvorson, the following individuals comprised our founding Board of Directors: Sylvester Aguilar, Marla Arata, Carrie Cardoza, Wendell Chun, Lillie Clark, Denise Davis, Laura Evnin, Mark Goldberg, Tim Joslyn, Emily Kelley, Christopher Neall, Larry Poaster, Dr. Donald Strangio, the Honorable Marie Silveira, Lona Stonebreaker, Mike Tozzi,  Jan Viss and the Honorable Nancy Williamsen.

With that, funding streams and volunteer recruitment began, and the first class of CASA advocates was sworn in September of 2003. From that initial group of volunteer advocates, the incomparable Jerry Rhine has been, and is still, an advocate today.

The next five years saw our program serve a total of 86 children over that period of time, On April 1, 2008 our current Executive Director was hired. At the time of his hire, we had 8 advocates serving 13 children. Over the course of the next three years, our team (which included then Case Manager Cindy Julsgard - another graduate of our first recruitment class) - worked tirelessly to expand and improve our program. As a result of their efforts, the commitment of our advocates and our Board of Directors (led at the time by Catherine Hallinan and Susan Azevedo), our program grew and grew and grew.

By June of 2011, we were serving 100 children a year - outnumbering the TOTAL amount served by our program in our first 6 years combined! In the past five years we have consistently served between 175 and 250 children and youth.

Our program's growth and stability is due to the commitment of our more than 100 advocates, our exceptional staff, our very committed Board of Directors and those of you who have supported our program financially and so many other ways. Our goal remains to serve every single one of the more than 800 plus children in care at any given time.  With your continued support - and our continued commitment - we will reach our goal.