Family Law CASA of King County

OUR CHILD ADVOCACY PROGRAM

More than 80% of the parents involved in our cases either retain partial legal representation or cannot afford any legal representation. This situation forces judges to make decisions that shape a child’s future with an incomplete understanding of the implications for the child and their well-being. In response to this complex challenge, Family Law CASA provides critical free advocacy services which ensure the child’s voice is heard and their safety is prioritized.

“This program is great and there is such a need for it. It truly allows the Court to get an impartial person to show what is truly in the best interest of the child.” CASA Parent

When Family Law CASA is appointed to a case, our trained volunteer Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) and legal professionals act as impartial advocates. Our CASAs gather comprehensive data from interviews, home visits, and consultations with professionals involved in the child’s life. This thorough investigation culminates in detailed reports presented to the court, providing judges with clear, objective recommendations focused solely on the child’s best interests.

Each case has three phases;

Investigation of Safety Concerns – Review hundreds of pages of documents (ex: police, CPS, medical, etc.), conduct interviews with child(ren), parents, and other relevant community members (ex: teachers, counselors, healthcare professionals, etc.), and observe parent-child relationships during home visits.

All the cases (100%) handled by our team involve major safety concerns – frequently more than one concern per case – that present barriers to children (birth to 18 years) – growing to thrive. In 2023-2024, these are the rates of each safety concern:

• Domestic Violence (90%)
• Neglect (67%)
• Substance Abuse (66%)
• Mental Health Issues (53%)
• Physical/Sexual Abuse (41%)
• Criminal History (18%)

Analysis & Report to Court - The report (an average of 20-40 pages) provides a detailed account of the investigation and an analysis of investigation for each parent including their strengths. The report concludes with recommendations in the best interest of the child(ren). Recommendation examples may include a residential time schedule for parenting plans, domestic violence assessment and/or treatments, mental health therapy, or parenting classes.

Court Proceedings – Testify or provide details from the investigation and report to ensure the best interests of the children are prioritized in rulings.

OUR PROGRAM IMPACT

In 2023 – 2024, Family Law CASA served 174 children and 227 of their parents/guardians. Seventy-nine percent of the children were 11 years or younger, and 58% were from communities of color.

Additionally, in 2023 – 2024, our team:

• Submitted 90 reports to the Court.
• Litigated 27 trials.
• Attended 175 hearings.
• Supported 33 mediations – avoiding trauma exposure for families.

In the first 9 months of 2024 – 2025, our team has produced the following outputs:

• Submitted 50 reports to the Court.
• Litigated 15 trials.
• Attended 96 hearings.
• Supported 16 mediations.

And, we have advocated for 160 children fiscal year-to-date.

In a survey administered in Fall 2024, past Family Law CASA families reported:

• 88% reported their children are doing better than at the time of the case, and 
• 75% felt it was very helpful having a volunteer CASA on their case.

Additionally, judges are grateful for our support. A recently completed 3-year evaluation study found:

• 100% of judges felt Family Law CASA services resulted in more informed court decisions that better enable long-term permanency and stability, and
• 93% of recommendations made by Family Law CASA were adopted by the court with zero modifications.

“I can’t change the world. But I could change the world of this child. A child trapped in an abusive situation can feel alone and afraid. Having an adult who listens to you, who cares about you, is a lifeline.” Volunteer CASA