Timeline of CASA/GAL Programs

1978 - First CASA program starts in Seattle, Washington
1981 - Great Falls program begins Guardian ad Litem program with one volunteer
1984 - Anaconda GAL begins
1984 - GAL program begins with one volunteer in Malta, 17th Judicial District
1986 - Gallatin County GAL program begun by Judge Gary in Bozeman
1987 - Great Falls program forms a board of directors
1988 - Great Falls program incorporates as Cascade GAL program. Darcy Crum and Sherry Meador were the driving forces behind the move for a State Association. The original State Association grant was written by Sherry Meador, Darcy Crum and Laura Singley
1991 - Central Montana CASA affiliates with NCASA The Guardian Ad Litem Program of the 10th Judicial District (later renamed Central Montana CASA) is started by Judge Peter L. Rapkoch
1993 - Eastern Montana CASA begins in Miles City
1994 - Eastern Montana gets first NCASA grant to cover 16th Judicial District
1994 - CASA of Missoula begins Montana CASA/GAL (CASA of Missoula) begins, this program covered both the State of Montana and Missoula - it was started by Judge John Larson
1995 - After collapse of the first state association, Laura B. Singley serves as the Montana State Representative for NCASAA
1996 or 1997 - Great Falls & Bozeman Programs affiliate with NCASA
1997 - The Court Assessment Program begins to assist the State CASA/GAL network in holding quarterly meetings. The meetings included CASA/GAL programs from: Bozeman, Great Falls, Lewistown, Miles City, Missoula, as well as other individuals/communities with an interest to begin CASA/GAL programs in their District.
1997 - Central Montana CASA/GAL representatives Laura B. Singley; NCASAA State Representative/Program Director; and other people, including Judge Larson and Judge Rapkoch present CASA to judges at the Fall Judicial Conference in Red Lodge, MT.
1997/98 - A decision was made to apply for NCASAA funding to start a Montana CASA/GAL State Association - Sherry Meador, who served as the lead writer, Darcy Crum & Laura Singley co-wrote the application to NCASAA, which was funded, and CASA/GAL of Montana was born.
July 1998 - Tara Huber starts as CASA/GAL Coordinator with NCASA grant,
Bill Collins starts work as Program Director, CASA Advocates for Kids (Helena)
Sept. 1998 - First CASA/GAL network meeting - Bozeman, Helena and others
1999 - 17th Judicial District program revitalized, volunteer director appointed
2000 - Eastern Montana gets expansion grant to reach 7th judicial district
April 2000 - Front Range CASA/GAL appointed to first case
July 2000 - Yellowstone County CASA/GAL begins under Family Support Network
Feb. 2001 - Front Range CASA/GAL incorporates as non-profit
July 2001 - CASA/GAL moves under state Supreme Court with Coordinator Doug Dellwo
Jan. 2002 - Bitterroot CASA incorporates
July 2002 - Coordinator Doug Dellwo leaves.
Oct. 2002 - New State Coordinator Ellen M. Bush begins work
Nov. 2002 - Yellowstone CASA incorporates
2002 - 6th Judicial District CASA/GAL incorporates
April 2003 - Yellowstone CASA moves to office separate from Family Resource Center
Jan. 2004 - 6th Judicial District CASA/GAL (Livingston) begins taking cases
July 2004 - Lake County CASA gets NCASA startup grant, begins operation
July 2004 - Anaconda GAL joins CASA, becomes Anaconda CASA/GAL
October 2004 - First state board meeting for CASA/GAL of Montana
August 2005 - CASA of Montana moves to off site location from state government
September 2005 - First Park-2-Park Montana bike ride raises $5,000
October 2005 - CASA of Montana approved as tax -exempt nonprofit
January 2006 - Final split with state, employees now work for nonprofit
September 2006 - Second Park-2-Park Montana bike ride raises almost $20,000 for local CASA programs
January 2007 - CASA of Montana gets AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) member, Santella Baglivo, to help build the capacity and sustainability of the program.