South Dakota CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) is aware of the termination of federal funding to the National CASA Association. As a result, National CASA has suspended all services and support to all state and local CASA programs.
South Dakota CASA programs are not reliant on National CASA funds. No CASA program in South Dakota receives funds from National CASA.
South Dakota CASA State Administered Organization, in collaboration with the South Dakota Unified Judicial System, is committed to providing leadership, support and encouragement to the state’s CASA programs that provide an important service to the courts and to the children involved in the court proceedings.
“South Dakota CASA State Administered Organization remains committed to supporting local programs in delivering high-quality volunteer advocacy, securing adequate resources, and achieving programmatic excellence as well as fidelity to the core CASA model,” said State Court Administrator Greg Sattizahn. “We do this through providing resources, technical assistance and shared services to local CASA programs.”
South Dakota’s CASA network includes eight local nonprofits each with its own board of directors. The South Dakota CASA State Administered Organization and the South Dakota CASA Commission is administered and staffed by the Unified Judicial System. In 2024, 338 volunteers provided CASA services to 658 children in 37 counties in South Dakota. These numbers are expected to increase in 2025 with the implementation of services by two new CASA programs serving the Fifth Judicial Circuit and Sixth Judicial Circuit.