Our Story

Safety, Empowerment and Prevention programs to end domestic violence

Founded in 1977, CASA is the official 501c3 domestic violence center based in Pinellas County, FL.

We operate the area’s 24-hour hotline and emergency shelter; non-residential programs, such as support groups, economic empowerment and legal advocacy; Child Protective Investigative Team support; community and corporate training; and the CASA Peacemakers anti-bullying and healthy relationship school curriculum.

Our Humble Beginnings

CASA was founded by Sr. Margaret Freeman in 1977 as the “Free Clinic Spouse Abuse Shelter,” a service of the St. Petersburg Free Clinic providing emergency housing for up to 8 domestic violence survivors at a time. It soon became an independent 501c3 nonprofit organization, able to expand its services with financial support from a network of caring community organizations and members.

CASA Today

A community champion

CASA was incorporated in 1981 as an emergency shelter to accommodate 22 participants, children’s programs, and an Outreach department to provide support groups and peer counseling, and the fundraising groundwork was laid in order develop a 30 bed shelter, which opened in 1992.

Under the leadership of Linda A. Osmundson, CASA grew to include enhanced support groups, a 24-hour domestic violence hotline, outreach services, training for law enforcement and other community members, and youth programs such as the Peacemakers Program teaching violence prevention in Pre-K through 8th grade classes. CASA Collections Thrift Shoppe was opened in 1998 to collect items for domestic violence survivors and raise funds for CASA.

In July 2015, CASA opened the doors to a newly constructed 133-bed domestic violence center. In addition to providing safe refuge to more than three times as many people at a time than before, it adds an integrated array of on-site support services such as a resource center and rapid re-housing program to help domestic violence survivors attain safety and economic opportunity.

CASA is currently led by CEO Lariana Forsythe, an experienced executive with more than two decades in the nonprofit sector.

21-22 Audit Report

CASA’s fiscal year runs from July 1 – June 30 and publishes an Audit Report in the Fall of each year.

Audit

Financials

CASA’s fiscal year runs from July 1 – June 30 and publishes an Annual Report in the Fall of each year.

2019201820172016

CASA 990 Form

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Whistleblower & Conflict of Interest Policies

Whistleblower PolicyConflict of Interest Policy

Executive Leadership

Lariana Forsythe, MBA, CFRE

CEO

Mindy Forey

Chief Financial Officer

Sherry Clester

Chief Operations Officer

CASA Board

Ian Womack

Chair

Stephanie Morge

Vice Chair

Rita Wesley

Secretary

Chris Bennett

Vice Secretary

Rachel Carpenter

Past-chair

Rick Giglio

Treasurer

Judith M. Ploszek

Vice Treasurer

Ben Cristal

Board Member

Mark Dawson

Board Member

Major David Gerardo

Board Member

Brittany Maxey-Fisher

Board Member

Justin McClain

Board Member

Kathleen Premo

Board Member

Patty Robinson

Board Member

Lieutenant AJ Scarpati

Board Member

Rima Terradista

Board Member

Marcus Wilson

Board Member

Board Emeritus

Jim Kennedy

Sheila King

Patrons For Peace

David Baldwin
Foundation Member Emeritus

Brian Clark
Foundation

Mark Dawson
Foundation

Harvey Goodman
Foundation

Bob Heyman
Foundation

Sheila King
Foundation

Jean Krause
Foundation

Dan Mageras
Foundation

Our Programs

Program Overview

CASA staff members understand the courage it takes to disclose abuse, and they work with the community to build a network of support for survivors and their children.

Survivor

Support

Learn about our domestic violence support programs.

CASA in the

Community

Learn about our proactive engagement in the community.

Volunteer

Support

Discover how you can help us end domestic violence.

Our Awards

Best One-Stop Shopping for Domestic Violence Survivors

Creative Loafing – Best of the Bay 2023

2023 Good Burger Award – Community Conscious

St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce

2023 Purple Ribbon Award

DomesticShelters.org

2020 TBBJ One Tampa Bay Honoree

Tampa Bay Business Journal

2018 Business Woman of the Year

Tampa Bay Business Journal

Nonprofit of the Year

Pinellas Park / Gateway Area Chamber of Commerce

2017 Be More Knowledgable and Be More Entertaining Awards

WEDU Be More Awards

2016 Best 501c3 Nonprofit

LocalShops1 8th Annual Community Awards

2016 Outstanding Achievement in Preventing Domestic Violence (Elyssa Broussard)

Pinellas County Domestic Violence Task Force

2016 Outstanding Victim Advocate of the Year (Vanessia Washington)

Florida’s Attorney General Office

2015 CDFA Florida Financing Board Roundtable Excellence Award

Council of Development Finance Agency

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