In the late 1970s, the death of a toddler inspired Judge David Soukup to develop a volunteer-based program that empowered everyday citizens to take active roles in the child welfare system by speaking up for the best interests of abused, neglected and abandoned children. Becoming dissatisfied that he did not get sufficient information to make appropriate renderings, Judge Soukup created the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program so that its highly trained and closely supervised volunteers could assist professionals in the overstressed child welfare system and move children toward permanent living situations with minimal anguish.

So successful was this pilot program that the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation dedicated seed money to launch six similar initiatives across the United States. Together with the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), St. Louis Section, and the Family Court of St. Louis County, CASA of St. Louis County was introduced as an innovative and effective child advocacy program. The effort started out small with four volunteers and one part-time staff person.

Today, CASA of St. Louis County is flourishing. Since the program's inception in 1980, there have been more than 700 community volunteers who have served more than 1,500 kids as their CASA volunteers.

CASA of St. Louis County
121 South Meramec Avenue, 2nd Floor
St. Louis, MO 63105
(314) 615-2908

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