In May 1985, the Junior League of Topeka accepted a request to conduct a survey to determine if the services for children in the court system were needed.  A small group of dedicated and persistent volunteers saw a need for volunteers to advocate for children involved in the court system.  Many months of intense work paid off when CASA of Shawnee County was incorporated on November 25, 1986.

1986 – First Annual Meeting held.  Funds from Topeka Junior League were matched through a start-up grant from the   Department of Health and Human Services.  Sue Lockett hired as Executive Director.

1987 – First volunteers trained and sworn in by Judge Dan Mitchell.  Part-time clerical position secured through National CASA.  Shawnee County Judicial District began to partially fund CASA’s program.

1988 – Full-time and half-time staff positions added.  The first Holiday Homes Tour implemented.  The City of Topeka began to partially fund CASA’s program.

1989 – CASA relocated to the KNEA Building at 715 W 10th St.

1990 – CASA’s Domestic & Juvenile Offender Program began.  JO Program was later discontinued.

1992 – A second part-time staff position added due to increased City of Topeka funding.  1st Annual CASAs for CASA held.

1993 – Inception of Special Victims Advocacy Program with funding from the Attorney General’s Victims Advocacy Grant.  CASA began to receive funding from the Permanent Families Fund.

1994 – Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award established.

1995 – Grant was received to establish Citizen Review Boards and a coordinator was hired.  Additional funds from the City of Topeka expanded the hours of supervisor positions.

1997 – 10 year Celebration at Bradbury Thompson Alumni Center.

1998 – Additional staff positions added.  Sue Lockett received National CASA Director of the Year Award.  Truancy program began.  Bikers for CASA Charity Ride added as a fundraising event.

2000 – CASA accepted as a United Way agency.  The CASA office relocated to the Family Resource Center at 400 Oakley.

2001 – Kinship Care became a CASA program.

2002 – Sue Lockett resigns after 17 years of service.

2003 - In March, Sue Lockett was nominated for a Jefferson Award.  In June, CINC supervisor Kim Gillum resigned and the Kinship Care program was moved to SRS.  In October, the Capital Federal Foundation awarded a $9,000 grant to provide a new copier for the office.  In October, the Topeka Active 20/30 Club funded volunteer training materials.

2004 - In April, Lori McReynolds, CINC supervisor, resigned.  Terri Jowett resigned and the Victims Advocacy Program moved to the Prairie Advocacy Center.  In May, Marie Landry resigned.  Ty Ricker, Truancy Case Manager, also resigned.  In August Klint Deere was hired as Truancy Case Manager.  In September, Christine Nusser was hired as Executive Director.  She resigned two weeks later due to health insurance issues.  In October, Resource Development Director Linda Pease resigned and Joanne Penn was promoted into this position.  In November, Sharolyn Dugger was hired as Executive Director.  CASA received a $4,000 grant from the Kansas Health Foundation.

2005 – Linda Coffman was hired as Office Manager.  In June Lori Buessing resigned in her position as CINC Supervisor.  Rebecca Brown was hired as CINC Supervisor in June.  Citizen Review Board celebrated their 10 year anniversary.

2006 – One Child One Champion solicitation campaign was implemented and initiated.  In June CASA offices relocated to the 2nd floor business suites at the Ramada Inn Downtown.  CASA celebrated their 20 year anniversary.

2007 - April was Volunteer Appreciation Month.  Volunteers were honored for their commitment to the children of the community: CASA of the Year Sue Edwards; Rookie CASA of the Year Craig Dunstan; Friends of CASA Jan Howard.  Klint Deere resigned as our Truancy Case Manager; Marcy Dalrymple filled the position for three months.  Upon Marcy's resignation the BOD made the decision to discontinue the Truancy program and funding from JCAB.  Chrissy Russell was hired in June to fill the newly added CINC Supervisor position now totaling four CINC Sups.  In August, Joanne Penn resigned as our Resource Development Director/Volunteer Recruiter and Linda Laird from her position of CINC Supervisor.  Carola Todd was hired in October to fill the vacant CINC Supervisor position.  The Board of Directors assigned a committee to research viable options to change the part time Resource Development position to full time and how to handle the part time Volunteer Recruitment position.  In December the BOD approved the creation of the full time Resource Development Director's position.  In addition, the job duties of the Volunteer Recruiter would be fulfilled by the Executive Director until funding could be secured to hire an additional staff. 

2008 - Kate Clemmons was hired as the full time Resource Development Director.  Our first 5K Fun Run and our 12th annual Bikers for CASA was held in April.  April was Volunteer Appreciation Month and volunteers were honored for their commitment to the children of the community: CASA of the Year Judy Jewsome; Rookie CASA of the Year Marci Miller.  Friends of CASA Suzy Smith was honored at the Annual Meeting.  Effective in July CRB staff hours were decreased a total of 208 hours for the year due to 7.5% decrease in funding from the Permanent Families Funding through OJA.

CASA Board Presidents (*more than one term)

1986-1988          Mary McCallister*
1988-1989          Judy Holiner
1989-1990          Carol Bonebrake
1990-1991          Peg Dunlap
1991-1992          Terri Jowett
1992-1993          Cleo Murphy
1993-1994          Jane Gates
1994-1995          Mary Ann Wheeler
1995-1996          Jan Howard
1996-1997          Lois Dimmitt
1997-1998          Jim Caplinger, Jr.
1998-2001          Becky Iams*
2001-2002          Larry Hendricks
2002-2007          Kathy Busch*
2007-present       Rich Eckert*