History

JEFFERSON COUNTY COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATE (CASA) PROGRAM HISTORY

 I. Summary Jefferson County CASA, located in Birmingham, Alabama, has operated as one of many Jefferson County Family Court Programs, and has been funded through the Jefferson County Commission as part of the Family Court’s annual budget for the past twenty-four years. In 1985, Family Court created the Jefferson County CASA Program and since that time the Court has had sole responsibility for the support and operation of the program. Since its inception, the Jefferson County CASA has made many strides and is one of the most vital and vibrant programs in the state, handling over 150 cases annually, involving more than 250 abused and neglected children. CASA and the Court believe that the program can be improved, and can better serve its clients as a separate and independent entity. It is with this objective in mind that, in 2008, the Court agreed to support CASA as it embarked on a path to reinvent itself as an autonomous non-profit entity. CASA volunteers are trained advocates, appointed by a Juvenile Court Judge to a specific case to represent the interest of the abused or neglected child. They represent children of all races and economic levels, from birth to age 18. CASA is a child’s voice in court. The CASA volunteer offers an additional layer of protection to ensure that abused children are not further victimized by what is often a confusing and frightening process. The ultimate goal is to ensure that every child has a safe and permanent home. 

II. Jefferson County CASA Program Begins The program began in 1985, making it the first and oldest CASA program in Alabama. Judge Charles Nice, Presiding Jefferson County Family Court Circuit Judge at that time, issued “an invitation to service”, and in his words asked “mature, right-thinking citizens to participate in highly meaningful volunteer work.” Judge Nice made that appeal to the court for assistance in investigating cases of child abuse and neglect because, in his own words, “paid staff alone can simply not handle all the work. There are over one thousand reports of child abuse or neglect that need investigation here in Jefferson County alone.” The first CASA volunteers in Jefferson County were actually VISTA volunteers, working under the leadership of the court’s Director of Volunteer Services, who managed a wide variety of volunteer efforts at Family Court. Eventually, as more community citizens became CASA volunteers, a part-time case aid was assigned to coordinate the cases. As the need for and value of CASA volunteers increased, staffing was expanded to a full-time position. In 1996, Jefferson County CASA was removed from the “umbrella” of other volunteer endeavors at the court, and a full-time professional probation officer position was allocated to manage the CASA program. 

III. Present Since that time, Family Court has added an additional part-time contract employee and one full time employee, both serving as Case Aides, enabling the CASA Program to provide services to 6 court dockets in the Birmingham and Bessemer Divisions of Jefferson County Family Court. Accordion to the Alabama Department of Human Resources, in fiscal year 2008, 3,924 children suffered from abuse or neglect in Jefferson County. Approximately 1500 of these were brought to Family Court. CASA served 286 dependent children with an average of 50 assigned volunteers. 1,214 children did not have a volunteer Advocate. It is of great concern that CASA is presently able to serve only a small percentage of these children who need an advocate.

IV. Non-Profit Need recognized In 1997, Jefferson County CASA made an effort to incorporate a non-profit fund raising arm to the organization, whose board would be charged with the goal of raising additional funds for program expansion. Funding and services for filing for non-profit status were donated by members of Leadership Birmingham and Compass Bank. Due to the growing challenge of maintaining the program with limited staff and resources, efforts to recruit and develop a board of directors to begin fund-raising, and to maintain a focus on program expansion were not possible. In 2003, the Jefferson County CASA Program applied for, and received a competitive grant from the National CASA Association, which disburses federal funds to local programs and state CASA organizations. These grant funds provided for the addition of one full time Probation Aide position. This position was sustained by the Commission at the end of the two year grant period. In April, 2008, the Jefferson County Family Court was faced with extreme financial difficulties due to reduced funding from the Jefferson County Commission. This meant that funding for CASA, a non-mandated program of the Court, could be in jeopardy. Combined with the knowledge and understanding of CASAs need to continue and to expand to serve the growing numbers of abused and neglected children in Jefferson County, the effort to transition CASA to a separate and independent entity was revived. In July, 2008, a Steering Committee, made up of 7 committed community volunteers and 3 representatives from Family Court, was formed. Three of the members are current or former CASA Volunteers, one member has served on the Alabama State CASA Board. All members are committed to the success and continuation of the CASA program. Work began immediately to apply for non-profit status. In August, 2008, the full time CASA Program Director retired. Family Court immediately funded and hired a Transition Coordinator to maintain the continuity and integrity of the CASA program during the transition; and to assist the Steering Committee in completing tasks to gain non-profit status and transition to the non-profit organization. On October 3, 2008, a full CASA Board was formed and officers were elected. In February 2009, non-profit status was granted. Jefferson County CASA will be overseen by an Executive Director and support staff under the direction of the Board of Directors. Funding to support the CASA program will come from fundraisers, private and corporate donations, and state and federal grants.

V. Professional Affiliations Jefferson County CASA is a member in good standing with the Alabama CASA Network and the National CASA Network.