Guardian Ad Litem?

Guardian "ad litem" means for the suit or for the duration of the court case. So a Guardian Ad Litem speaks on behalf of a minor child during a court case. In 1974, congress voted into law the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) which provides for the appointment of a Guardian Ad Litem in child abuse and neglect court cases.

Due to the judicial systems forms and paperwork requirements all of the cases began to look as if they were cut out with a cookie cutter mold. Every child's case had the same plan and recommendation. All children are different and all of their situations are different.

That is where the idea for CASA began to take shape. In 1977, Judge David Soukup of Seattle, Washington began a program of volunteers who could advocate for children in court. The volunteers were people from the local community who were trained and given support for their work.

In 1982 National CASA was created to support the volunteer child advocate programs and help train and give support to the numerous volunteers.

He Really Didn't Hit Me

Approximately 75% of children whose mothers are battered witness the violence. The batterer sometimes wants the child to witness it as a form of control and power. The effect on the child’s development can be severe and especially harmful when the victim or the perpetrator is the child’s parent or caregiver.

Children in families where there is domestic violence are at great risk of becoming victims of abuse themselves. Over half of children in homes where their mother is battered are also abused themselves.

Can I leave him today?
I’m so tired of walking on eggshells.
He was so mad at me last night
He said his dinner was too cold
I tried to calm him with praises and false cheer
The children were scared and I pushed them behind me
Chocolate cake on the floor
My nose bleeding
Finally it is over and he is gone
I can clean up the mess and go on
He really didn’t hit me.