Mission Statement
Gulf Coast CASA(Court Appointed Special Advocates)of Brazoria, Matagorda and Wharton Counties is the voice for abused and neglected children who have been removed from their homes in this area. We work to ensure each child has a safe, loving and permanent home.
Vision
Improve the lives of all abused and neglected children and youth of Brazoria, Matagorda, and Wharton Counties placed in state protective custody.
History
Gulf Coast CASA, serving Brazoria, Matagorda, and Wharton Counties, is part of a national volunteer movement that began in 1977 when Judge David Soukup in Seattle decided he needed to know more about the children whose lives were in his hands. His solution was to ask community volunteers to act as a “voice in court” for abused and neglected children. These Court Appointed Special Advocate® (CASAs) provided him with the detailed information he needed to safeguard the children’s best interests and ensure that they were placed in safe, permanent homes as quickly as possible. The program was so successful that it was copied around the nation.
The first CASA program established in Texas was Dallas CASA in 1980. Today, the CASA movement has evolved into one of the largest volunteer organizations in the country with over 1,000 CASA programs nationwide. In Texas, there are 72 local CASA programs with more than 10,920 volunteers serving more than 28,543 foster children in 219 counties.
Gulf Coast CASA, serving Brazoria, Matagorda and Wharton Counties is a member of the National and Texas CASA Associations. CASA of Matagorda and Wharton Counties is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization governed by a volunteer board of directors.
