Welcome !

Who We Are...

For over a decade, Dane County judges have assigned volunteers associated with the Dane County Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children. To support their advocacy work, CASA volunteers maintain constant contact with the children they serve, make weekly home visits and correspond with any person who has taken an interest in the lives of these children — including family members, teachers, counselors, socials workers, coaches, and friends — to make sure the children are safe.

In a very real way, CASA volunteers provide an additional set of eyes and ears for the courts and help them make decisions regarding what is best for abused and neglected children. The CASA volunteer's sole objective is to make sure that all CASA kids have the opportunity that all children deserve — the opportunity to grow up in a safe, permanent home.

In 1992 Judge Gerald Nichol became interested in the National CASA Program and enlisted Randi Celusta to help him get a program started in Dane County. Randi visited an existing CASA program in Milwaukee, enlisted other community members and made a personal trip to National CASA Headquarters in Seattle, Washington. Upon learning that Kappa Alpha Theta sorority sponsors National CASA, the local chapter was contacted to enlist their help. They held a successful Walkathon and donated $2000 for start up funds for CASA. The rest is history! Randi says, when she looks back on her career, this is what she is most proud of. Thank you to Judge Nichol, Randi Celusta and Kappa Alpha Theta for bringing CASA to Dane County!

Our Board of Directors has been working diligently to govern the program as well as to help Dane County CASA grow. They have helped us with independence, a new “home” and plans for growth. We couldn’t ask for more!

Dane County CASA is currently funded by the Dane County Clerk of Courts, United Way of Dane County, Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, a generous grant for 2007-2008 from the Jewelers for Children Fund, as well as donations and generous sponsors for our fund raising events.

There have been many changes for CASA over the years but our mission has remained the same. We act in the best interest of children in need of protection and services by providing well trained volunteers to act as advocates for them.