Indiana Supreme Court
Division of State Court Administration
30 S. Meridian Street, Ste. 500
Indianapolis, IN 46204

Pho: 317-232-2542
Pho: 800-542-0813 (toll free)
Fax: 317-233-6586

Leslie Dunn
GAL/CASA Director
leslie.dunn@courts.in.gov

Teresa Lyles
Program Coordinator
teresa.lyles@courts.in.gov

GAL / CASA > About About

General Summary of GAL/CASA Volunteer Programs in Indiana in 2012

  • Children in 73 of Indiana's 92 counties were served by organized and certified GAL/CASA volunteer programs in 2012, and these programs were staffed by 139 full-time, and 105 part-time employees statewide
  • 3,466 GAL/CASA trained volunteers advocated for abused and neglected children in Indiana in 2012
  • Local GAL/CASA programs recruited and trained 924 new volunteers in 2012
  • Indiana GAL/CAA volunteers provided a voice for 16,355 children in abuse/neglect cases and 2,344 children in termination of parental rights cases in 2012, making 155,210 contacts with those children
  • Our volunteers donated 332,7333 hours advocating for Indiana's children, and saved the State of Indiana an estimated $16.6 million in 2012
  • At the beginning of 2012, there were 2,350 children waiting for an advocate to be assigned to them; at the beginning of 2013, there were 2,344 children waiting for a GAL/CASA volunteer

History of CASA

In 1977, the concept of the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program was introduced in Seattle, Washington. Seattle Juvenile Court Judge David W. Soukup realized that children who entered the legal system due to abuse or neglect in their own homes were often inadvertently re-victimized by courts and public social service agencies who were over-burdened, understaffed and woefully lacking in resources. Although lawyers typically represented the interests of the parents and the state, seldom did someone speak exclusively for the child, the party who arguably had the most at stake in the proceeding. The child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act that was enacted in 1974 prompted states to adopt legislation that provided representation for the child's best interests during judicial proceedings, attorney guardians ad litem generally did not have the time, training nor resources to conduct the kind of in-depth fact-finding needed to represent the best long term interests of children.

Photograph: Two children sitting on a benchOnce Judge Soukup recognized the problem, he looked to community volunteers for a solution. He personally recruited and trained volunteers to serve as guardians ad litem for children who entered the child welfare system.

The idea caught the attention and approval of the Children in Placement Committee of the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and in 1978 the Committee adopted the model as one means for safeguarding the rights of children. Trained community volunteers who were being trained to gather relevant facts and to speak up for children in the courtroom came to be known as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA).

Photograph: Two children with their arms around each other's shouldersCASA in Indiana has grown over the years. In 1989, the Indiana General Assembly established an office of Guardian Ad Litem and Court Appointed Special Advocate services to be administered through the Division of State Court Administration. Through this program, counties can be certified to be eligible to receive matching grants administered by the Division and disbursed pursuant to a statutory formula. In addition, the state office provides training and support services for local GAL/CASA programs. To date, there are certified GAL/CASA volunteer programs in 73 of Indiana’s 92 counties. An advisory commission, which includes program directors and judges appointed by the Indiana Supreme Court, provides guidance. The Advisory Commission has been involved in strategic planning over the past two years, setting goals and objectives for the statewide network and creating program standards and a code of ethics, which programs must comply with to be certified.

Photograh: A GAL/CASA volunteer talking to a childIndiana law requires the appointment of either a guardian ad litem or a trained court appointed special advocate in abuse and neglect cases. Moreover, if a child becomes the subject of a petition to terminate the parent/child relationship and the parent objects, the court shall appoint a guardian ad litem or CASA for the child. In addition to the abuse and neglect cases, Indiana law allows for and Indiana courts are now frequently appointing CASA volunteers in custody and paternity cases. Although of the number of volunteers who provide an invaluable service to Indiana trial courts is remarkable, the need for more volunteers is ongoing.

For more information regarding the opportunity to serve as a volunteer CASA or Guardian ad Litem, contact the Office of GAL/CASA, Division of State Court Administration.