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Predating Casey Family Programs | 1853–1965
1888–1907
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James E. “Jim” Casey is born in Candelaria, Nevada. |
| At age 19, Jim Casey borrows $100 to start the American Messenger Service. |
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Jim Casey renames his delivery business United Parcel Service (UPS).
1948
 Jim Casey and his siblings found The Annie E. Casey Foundation–a national grant-making institution headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland–to honor their mother and support vulnerable children and families.
1965
Jim Casey presents his idea for long term foster care to Joseph Reid, then executive director of CWLA.
Jim Casey recruits a board of trustees and commissions a feasibility study for Casey Family Programs.
Formative Years | 1966–1977
1966
The Casey Family Program (renamed Casey Family Programs in 2000) is founded on March 15 in Seattle.
The Casey Family Program accepts the first youth into care on August 1, 1966, and by the end of the year 10 children have been placed.
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Paul Christiansen is hired as the first employee and director. |
1967–71
 In 1968, Casey pays for a youth in its care to attend college, marking the beginning of Casey’s student aid program.
Casey’s first social worker is hired in 1967, and by the end of the year, 25 children have been placed.
The first youth from The Casey Family Program joins the Army after graduating from high school.
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Washington State recognizes Jim and Marguerite Casey for establishing The Casey Family Program and other philanthropic endeavors. |
1972–76
Casey has more than 100 youth in care by the end of 1972.
By 1973, Casey opens divisions in Montana and California, making it the first child service agency to cross state lines
Casey launches Continuing Education and Job Training (CEJT) program to grant postsecondary scholarships.
Casey celebrates its 10th anniversary in 1976.
Seven Casey alumni enroll in college, and one enrolls at the National Maritime Academy.
Casey commissions a major longitudinal study by noted social statistician Dr. David Fanshel to examine the welfare of youth in care.
Growth and Expansion | 1978–1988
1978–81
In 1979, Seattle area foster parents form the Foster Parent Development Committee.
Jocquelyn Duncan joins Casey in 1979 and is its first African American employee.
In 1980 a study compares perceptions of foster parents in the Casey Family Program’s Bay Area office with those in two public agency offices, revealing that levels of foster parent support and consistency of interventions are correlated with better permanency outcomes.
Idaho Governor John V. Evans proclaims May 20, 1981 “Casey Family Program Day.”
| Charles P. Huey joins Casey’s board and serves until 1994. He is the first board member of color. |
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1982
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Joan Poliak joins Casey’s board in 1982 and is the first woman to serve as president from 1990–96. |
Montana Governor Ted Schwinden signs a proclamation to declare March 3, 1982 as “Casey Family Appreciation Day.”
California Governor Edmund G. Brown sends letter of appreciation to Jim, Marguerite, and Harry for their foresight and generosity in founding The Casey Family Program.
Washington Governor John Spellman sends letter of gratitude to Jim, Marguerite, and Harry for their contributions to foster care.
South Dakota Governor William J. Janklow names March 18, 1982 “Casey Family Day.”
1983–86
In 1983, James E. Casey dies at age 95.
Casey hires Art Dodson as executive director.
Casey commissions Dr. David Fanshel of Columbia University to conduct a study to better understand the needs and treatment of youth in foster care.
In 1985, Casey’s first foster parents, the Perrys, retire after serving 19 years as foster parents.
The State of Texas honors Jim Casey and commends Casey Family Programs for its exemplary foster care program.
Casey celebrates its 20th anniversary in 1986. By the end of the year, more than 1,200 children have benefited from Casey services.
Wyoming Governor Ed Herschler declares August 9, 1986 “Jim Casey Day.”
The Rosebud Sioux Tribe passes a resolution in 1986 authorizing the Casey Family Program to work with the tribe.
1987–88
Marguerite Casey dies in 1987 at age 87 and leaves her entire estate to the Casey Family Program, ensuring its continued existence.
Paul Christiansen, the founding director of the Casey Family Program, retires in 1986 after 20 years of service.
A resolution is adopted by the Texas Senate to honor the memory of Marguerite Casey and her unselfish service to others.
Casey develops its first five-year strategic plan in 1988.
John N. Riese steps down as Casey’s board president, and Charles D. Rehm, M.D., becomes the new board president. Both are founding trustees.
Quality Improvement and Collaboration | 1989–1999
1989–90
Arthur Dodson steps down as Casey’s executive director in 1989 and becomes Casey’s division director in the South King County/Pierce County area. During his tenure the number of youth served increases from 350 to 700.
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 Nancy Freeman is named acting executive director and holds this position until Ruth Massinga (right) is recruited as Casey’s first CEO in 1989. |
Washington Governor Booth Gardner proclaims April 5, 1989 “The Casey Family Program Foster Parents Week.”
100 Casey youth enter collegiate and vocational courses with the assistance of the CEJT program.
Findings from a study called Quality Care for Tough Kids show that the placement disruption rate is low for most Casey youth and some of the factors contributing to success include the nature of the relationship between social worker and child and the support services available to foster parents.
1991–94
Casey celebrates its 25th anniversary.
George E. Fahey, social worker, businessman, and founding member of Casey’s Board, retires and is elected trustee emeritus in 1991.
John N. Riese, lawyer and founding member of the Board, retires and is elected trustee emeritus in 1992.
The Casey Practice Guidelines become the foundation of the new Casey Information System (CIS).
Casey works with the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arickara tribes at Fort Berthold, N.D., to build a day care center for children on the reservation.
Casey begins an innovative Forestry Apprenticeship Program as a joint project with the National Forest Service.
Casey partners with the North Dakota Department of Human Services and the state’s Department of Juvenile Justice to create a program called Specialized Foster Care (SFC).
Casey begins a program-wide “Family Conversation” in 1994 to critically examine its practice with foster families.
Casey develops more community partnerships, spurring creative projects such as the Rainbow Press—a newspaper that provides a cross-cultural experience and teaches job skills to youth in foster care.
1995–97
In 1995, the Texas Legislature recognizes the Casey Family Program for its superior service and many contributions to the community.
Casey celebrates its 30th anniversary.
Casey and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) begin a study on how mental health and substance abuse treatment can be integrated into early childhood and health care settings across 13 states.
Casey and the SAMSHA enter into an agreement in 1996 to fund Starting Early Starting Smart (SESS).
Annesse et al. begin a qualitative study of Casey’s permanency practice model in 1997, revealing that most Casey youth are in good physical health and have positive relationships and work experiences.
Casey cosponsors Take This Heart, a publicly broadcasted documentary that reveals the complexity of the foster care system by closely following three children in foster care.
Spokane, Wash. community leaders partner with the Casey Family Program and two medical centers to create a family service support center called Casey Family Partners.
1998–99
Casey pilots a cooperative program with the state of Idaho called the Technical Assistance Program (TAP).
Casey launches Neighborhood Foster Care, an innovative program aimed at encouraging kinship care and foster care within communities of origin so children in care can stay within their culture and close to their birth families.
The Casey Family Scholars Program is launched.
Casey partners with the Massachusetts Department of Social Services as a hands-on partner and funder to address an urgent need for foster homes.
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UPS goes public in 1999 and increases Casey’s worth from $2.3 billion to $3.2 billion. |
National Systems Change | 2000–2006
2000–02
With a record 550,000 children in the public child-welfare system in 2000, Casey commits to an expanded mission: to provide and improve and ultimately to prevent the need for foster care. The foundation changes its name from the Casey Family Program to Casey Family Programs.
Casey creates “Lighting the Way: Attracting and Supporting Foster Families,” a model tool to recruit and retain foster parents.
Casey collaborates with Texas child welfare administrators to create Texas State Strategy.
In 2001, Casey establishes two new organizations to broaden the legacy of Jim and Marguerite Casey: The Marguerite Casey Foundation and Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative (JCYOI).
Casey opens a Collaborative Transition Services (CTS) office in January 2001. Due to poor national economic conditions in 2002, Casey downsizes and reorganizes to ensure good stewardship of its endowment and the sustainability of its mission.
Casey publishes It's My Life—a youth-based framework for practitioners helping youth as they transition from foster care to independent living, and Staying Safe and Growing Strong: How Casey Can Help—a child-safety training manual.
2003–04
 In Feburary 2003, Casey co-hosts a special screening of Antwone Fisher, a box-office hit and award winning film about the struggles of a young man in foster care. |
Casey holds a higher education and child welfare summit in Washington, D.C. in 2003.
Casey partners with the Wyoming Department of Family Services to improve services for abused and neglected children in the foster care system.
Assessing the Effects of Foster Care: Early Results from the Casey National Alumni Study published in 2003.
Casey works with Native American tribes in 2004 to help them regain control over their own child welfare systems.
In 2004, Casey publishes A Roadmap for Learning: Improving Educational Outcomes in Foster Care.
Casey develops the Better Together curriculum in 2004.
Ruth Massinga, president and CEO of Casey, addresses the 2004 Congressional Hispanic Caucus in Washington, D.C.
Casey hires William Bell as executive vice president of Child and Family Services in 2004.
William Bell addresses the 2004 Congressional Black Caucus in Washington, D.C.
2004–05
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Ruth Massinga, Casey president and CEO, receives the first Lifetime Achievement Award from American Public Human Services Association (APHSA). |
Casey and the University of Texas join forces in 2004 to create an outreach program to make youth in foster care aware of new opportunities to succeed in college through the federally funded TRIO Programs.
Casey elects Dr. Sharon McDaniel to its board, the first foster care alumna to serve.
Casey announces that, during 2003–05, 343 youth received support from CEJT.
Casey partners with Annie E. Casey Foundation, Casey Family Services, Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative, and 10 other public and private agencies, as well as alumni and field experts, to sponsor National Foster Care Month in May 2005.
2005–06
William Bell, executive vice president of Child and Family Services at Casey, receives the 2005 Black Administrator of the Year Award from the Black Administrators in Child Welfare.
During a Congressional Briefing in April 2005 in Washington D.C., Casey releases findings from the Northwest Foster Care Alumni Study. The findings reveal that former foster children in Washington and Oregon suffer post-traumatic stress disorder at twice the rate of U.S. war veterans.
Casey and TeamChild convene more than 60 Arizona juvenile and family court judges to learn how courtroom decisions affect the educational outcomes of children in foster care.
Casey CEO Ruth Massinga addresses the 2005 Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
Casey issues a report on how proposed changes to Medicaid could affect youth in foster care.
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On December 7, 2005, Casey announces that William Bell will become its next president and CEO, effective January 1, 2006. | |
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