Welcome to Our Next Executive Director!

The Southeast Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program, headquartered in Yankton, SD is pleased to announce that Stacy Starzl Hansen has accepted the position of Executive Director beginning March 27, 2023. She will be replacing the current Executive Director, Sherri Rodgers-Conti, who will be retiring in June. Ms. Starzl Hansen joins us from the role as Executive Director for the River City Domestic Violence Shelter, and she was previously the Director of the Big Friend Little Friend Program, both based in Yankton.

“We are honored to have Ms. Starzl Hansen directing the Southeast CASA Program” said Tyler Buckman, Chairman of the Board. “Her leadership and experience will keep the mission of the program on track. Her career has been committed to working for children and the most vulnerable members of the community.”

A native of Yankton, Starzl Hansen has dedicated her life to improving the lives of others through her work in women’s shelter programs and mentorships for children.

As Executive Director, Ms. Starzl Hansen will be responsible for providing leadership to the staff, board and CASA volunteers, as well as managing resource development, grant management, and fiscal accountability for the organization. She will work closely with key stakeholders including donors, supporters, and the First Circuit Judicial Court System.

Over the past 12 years, the Southeast CASA Program has grown to serve abused and neglected children in Yankton, Clay, Bon Homme, Union, and Turner counties. CASA volunteers advocate for the best interests of children in Abuse and Neglect cases in court. If you would like to volunteer or donate, visit www.southeastcasa.org, or call 605-760-4825.

Report Child Abuse or Neglect

In SD, Call 877-244-0864

Or Your Local Law Enforcement Department

Call 911 if a child is in immediate danger!

The Southeast CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocates) Program, a nonprofit organization based in Yankton, SD, and serving Yankton, Clay, Bon Homme, Union, and Turner counties, provides CASA advocacy for abused and neglected children in southeastern South Dakota.

Southeast CASA is the ONLY program that provides advocacy for abused and neglected children in these counties.

We Are Looking for New Board Members!

Serve on our Board of Directors and help local children! Southeast CASA Board members ensure that CASA advocacy is possible for children in Yankton, Bon Homme, Clay, Union, and Turner counties who have experienced abuse or neglect. 

Please consider applying to join the Southeast CASA Board of Directors. Your leadership and talents will benefit local kids in need of a safe, permanent home.

Call our director at 605-760-4825 to find out more about board service at Southeast CASA.

Become a CASA Volunteer

Court Appointed Special Advocates® (CASA) are community volunteers, just like you, who promote and protect the best interests of abused and neglected children.

Our CASA program belongs to a network of nearly 1,000 community-based programs in the U.S. that recruit, train and support citizen-volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in courtrooms and communities.

Southeast CASA serves children in Yankton, Bon Homme, Clay, Turner, and Union counties in South Dakota. 

No other program provides free child advocacy services for abused and neglected children while they are in the foster care and court systems.

The need continues. Please consider becoming a CASA volunteer. 

For more information, click on the red VOLUNTEER TODAY button at the top of this page, contact casacasemanager@outlook.com, or call Crystal at 605-760-1766.

CASA Diaper Depot

In our ongoing efforts to help children in the Yankton area, the Southeast CASA Program has begun the CASA Diaper Depot. It is a resource for qualifying families, so that everyone has access to a healthy change.

Go to the CASA Diaper Depot page for more information! CASA Diaper Depot Page

The Story of a CASA Child

One story exemplifies the impact that a CASA volunteer had on the decision made for a child. It is about a boy we'll call Gabe. 

Gabe had three older half-siblings who had been removed from the home as children and raised by relatives, not their mother. Then along came Gabe, who struggled every day to get what he needed. You see, Gabe’s mother has a severe alcohol and drug addiction problem and often relapsed after months of sobriety. Gabe had been in foster care a couple of times when he was younger, but he was returned to his mother’s home after several months. But things never seemed to stay at a good level for very long.

Read more