Our STory

The Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program was originally conceived by children and family court judges who were concerned about the wellbeing of children in the foster care system. In 1978, a King County Washington Judge, David Soukup, spearheaded further development of the program by designing and operating the first program of its kind. The program was so successful that various versions rapidly spread across the country. The National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association was formed in 1998 to provide quality training, program oversight, accreditation standards, consistency among programs and child-centered advocacy at both the local and national level.

In 2018, CASA for Kids, Inc. was approached by the Montana Supreme Court Administrator, Beth McLaughlin, with a request to start and support a CASA Program in Lincoln County. A feasibility study was completed, and it was determined that the existing CASA for Kids program could support the establishment of a satellite program in Lincoln County for three years with the goal of creating a self-sustaining program by year four. With the support of Nineteenth Judicial District Court Judge, Matt Cuffe, the first Program Director, Sean Carlin, was hired and the program was established. The first class of new advocates graduated in March 2019.

On July 11, 2023, the National CASA/GAL Association application was submitted, marking the beginning of CASA of Lincoln County as an independent program. By September 27, 2023, CASA of Lincoln County was officially established as a corporation, becoming the 16th county in Montana to have its own local CASA program, launching January 1, 2024.

CASA of Lincoln County welcomed six Court Appointed Special Advocates to the team on October 2, 2024. The class was sworn in by Judge Matthew J. Cuffe of the 19th Judicial District Court after completing 30 hours of pre-service training. The six new advocates have taken an oath to act in the best interest of children and to support and strengthen families who are before the court as a result of abuse or neglect. 

Left to right: Willow Holm, Kristy Hensel, Faith Vaught, Judge Matthew J. Cuffe, Evan Comella, Stephanie Mullany, Keeli Anderson (Executive Director), and Lacey Thompson