About
Our Mission
Wisconsin Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Association champions the needs of abused and neglected children by supporting and expanding local CASA programs.
Our Vision
Every child has a voice and a hopeful future.
What We Do
Wisconsin CASA provides support to existing local CASA programs and assists with the start-up of new local CASA programs throughout the state of Wisconsin.
Our Values
In working to achieve our vision, these are our core values:
We value children
We value volunteer-centered advocacy
We value permanency
We value diversity
We value collaboration with local programs, volunteers, courts, policy makers and corporations
We value developing, growing and sustaining local programs
We value continuing education
We value credible leadership and impeccable ethics
We value unity
We value confidentiality
We value protecting the rights of Wisconsin children
Even with a committed and caring team around a kid in foster care, the only person there regularly to advocate solely for the kid's well-being and best interests is the CASA. Just one person in a kid's life advocating for them can make a huge difference!-CASA Advocate
What We Do
The Wisconsin Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Association is a charitable, nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and championing the needs of abused and neglected children. As a member of the National CASA Association network, our mission is to support quality volunteer advocacy for kids who are living under the protection of the courts and child welfare agency until they can be safe at home – or until a safe and permanent home is found for them. Our goals are to strengthen and expand a statewide network of CASA programs that serve all Wisconsin children who need advocates, and to advance public policy and practice that supports the best outcomes for kids.
The Association does not itself provide direct services to children; our role is to support Wisconsin’s ten local CASA programs, encourage program expansion, and support the start-up of new programs. We do that by cultivating resources, working to improve systems collaboration, and by advocating for enlightened public policy that advances the safety, permanence and well being of Wisconsin’s children.
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CASA local programs currently serve 15 counties in Wisconsin: Barron, Brown, Columbia, Dane, La Crosse, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Outagamie, Rock, Sheboygan, St. Croix and Vernon counties.
To learn more about each individual program, click here.
To learn more about what a CASA Advocate does, click here.
Wisconsin CASA History
1995: CASA of Dane County opens. In 1992, then Chief Juvenile Judge Nichol enlisted Randy Celusta’s help to start the program. Funding was approved in March of 1995, the Children Service Society was awarded the contract and the program began.
1999: Wisconsin State Statute 48.07(5) is made a law which allows for court appointed special advocates.
2000: Wisconsin CASA Association becomes a nonprofit.
2000: Kids Matter CASA opens.
2004: CASA of Brown County and CASA of Manitowoc County (under Lakeshore Community Action Program) open.
2005: CASA of Rock County opens.
2014: CASA of Fox Cities opens.
2015: CASA of Dane County is absorbed under the umbrella of the Canopy Center. Canopy Center opened in 1972 as a grassroots organization to support parents working to break the cycle of abuse.
2017: CASA of Columbia County re-opens after closing in 2013.
2020: CASA of St. Croix and CASA of Western Wisconsin open.
2022: CASA of Columbia County merges with CASA of Dane County under the umbrella of the Canopy Center.
2023: CASA of Marathon County opens.
2025: Wisconsin CASA celebrates 25 years.