The History of CASA in Colorado

Currently, there are 16 CASA programs in Colorado, covering 16 of the 22 Judicial Districts.

From 1981-1984 CASA was part of a national demonstration project, in conjunction with Rocky Mountain Children's Law Center, with a focus on finding the best way to provide effective legal representation for children.  The CASA model was one of three models explored with this grant during this time of service before individual CASA programs were created in the state.

The first CASA program to incorporate in Colorado, CASA of Larimer County, was established in 1984.  The next four programs -- Voices For Children in Boulder, Advocates for Children in Arapahoe County, Denver CASA,  and CASA of Colorado Springs (now CASA of the Pikes Peak Region) -- followed in short order, and by 1989 the state had five CASA agencies.

Also in 1989, the Executive Directors of these five programs formed Colorado CASA as a state-wide coordinating agency.  They performed all the functions of this state agency until incorporating and hiring the first Executive Director was hired in 1995.

The next expansion of the network of CASA programs in Colorado was Pueblo CASA, in 1995.

In 1996, Colorado's legislature passed a statute formally authorizing CASA services in Colorado. This law, part of the Colorado Children's Code, includes a description of the CASA volunteer role, and provides authorization for CASA  volunteers to work in specific types of cases.

In 1997, two additional jurisdictions -- Weld and Mesa Counties --established CASA programs, and CASA of the Continental Divide joined the network in 1999.

Three more programs were established in 2000 -- CASA of Jefferson and Gilpin Counties, CASA of Adams County (later to become CASA of Adams and Broomfield Counties) and CASA of the 7th Judicial District, located in Montrose.

Heart of Colorado CASA, located in Canon City, was created in 2007. Northwest Rocky Mountain CASA, located in Steamboat Springs, was created in mid 2008. Currently, there are 16 CASA programs serving 16 judicial districts in the state of Colorado.

The local programs, along with Colorado CASA, form the CASA Network in Colorado.