Dallas Casa fights for children in the state's protective custody in the community and in the courtroom so that they can grow up in permanent homes and safe environment where they can thrive. CASA was established in 1977. The Seattle superior court judge became the cause of creation, worried about making judgments on behalf of abused and neglected children in his court without enough information due to an overburdened child welfare system. More targeted attention and effort spent acquiring critical facts, he believed, would result in better outcomes for the kids. He made the decision to appoint community volunteers to represent the children in his court. In 1979, three pilot programs were launched, with Dallas CASA being one of them. The National Council of Jewish Women, formerly known as FOCAS (Foster Child Advocate Services), was created with financing from the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation. In 1980, it graduated the first class of volunteers.