Our History…
…begins in 1977, when Seattle Superior Court Judge David Soukup expressed concerns over making decisions for children who experienced abuse and neglect. Judge Soukup felt he never had enough information to make these important choices. He came up with the idea of appointing community volunteers to speak up for the best interests of these children in court. Before long, he had over 50 members of the community responding to his call for help, thus creating the first ever CASA program.
Within a few years, news of what Judge Soukup started spread across the country. By 1987, Maryland had its first CASA program. Since then, over 14 additional programs have opened their doors to help their local community’s foster children—including ours: CASA of Cecil County.
Founded in 2015, by Nolanda Kirby—the Director of Family Services in the Cecil County Circuit Court—CASA of Cecil County has worked hard to bring a voice to Cecil County’s foster children. Starting with humble roots, CASA of Cecil County had to partner with our neighbor CASA of Harford County to provide training to our first ever Advocate, Lloyd Johns. Shortly after Mr. Johns completed his training, he was sworn in by then CINA Judge Jain Cairns Murray.
In August 2015, Giulia Hodge was appointed the Director of CASA of Cecil County. Under her direction, our program grew into the success it is today. Adding new programs, creating new fundraisers, and seeing CASA move not once or twice, but three times as our needs grew, Giulia helped CASA of Cecil County serve our community’s children to the best of our ability.
As staff members were hired, we quickly outgrew the limited space within the office we started off in inside the Cecil County Circuit Courthouse. Soon, the team found a home a few doors down at the Cecil County Arts Council building. But our growth did not stop. Soon, we found ourselves needing more office space to accommodate our growing team and all the programs we support. Once again, CASA of Cecil County found themselves moving next door to the historic Mitchell House. It’s convenient location right next to the courthouse allowed us to continue to efficiently serve Cecil County’s foster care community.
Then, in June 2021, with an ever growing staff, CASA of Cecil County once again found themselves moving. Securing an office space within the Charlie Brown building behind the courthouse, CASA not only had enough space for our staff to work, but also extra room to create a visitation center. And being right next to the courthouse still makes this location our home for the foreseeable future.