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What is a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)?
A Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is a volunteer from the community who advocates for the best interest of children who have been abused or neglected and have an open Child In Need of Care (CINC) case with the court. CASAs serve two clients: the Judge and their CASA child. The Judge appoints each CASA volunteer to a specific CINC case for the purpose of gathering information and acting as an objective, independent observer in the case. In addition, the CASA meets with their assigned child each week, acting as a mentor to the child throughout the duration of the court case. CASAs work with children ages birth to 18 who have a CINC case due to any form of abuse or neglect. Most children CASA works with have been removed from their home and are in the foster care system.
How to
Become a Court Appointed Special Advocate
To become a CASA you must:
• Be at least 18 years old
• Be able to commit to serving as a CASA for at least a year
• Complete an application and background checks
• Complete the required training
• Have a passion and dedication for making a difference in the life of a child
Training
We offer volunteer training classes at least three times a year. Training is 30 hours of classroom instruction on the court process and court report writing, child abuse and neglect, permanency planning, substance abuse and mental illness, domestic violence, poverty, working with families and children, and the education system. Training is very interactive, and you will be completing a court report for a mock case to which you are assigned during the class.
Please contact the office if you are interested in becoming a volunteer. You may download our application to print and complete. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the application file. Please contact our office for more information on traditional or independent study training. *The last two pages (release of information and security clearance request) must be printed on two separate pages. Also, you do not need to pay the $10 fee.
Independent Study Training
For those unable to attend traditional training the option for independent study is available. Independent training consists of meeting with staff four times throughout the training process, with most of the work being done on your own time at your own pace.
The National CASA Association defines four roles for Court-Appointed Special Advocates:
• Investigation: CASA volunteers carry out an objective, systematic examination of the situation, environment, relationships, and needs of their CASA child.
• Facilitation: CASA volunteers help to create a situation in which their CASA child's needs can be met by identifying and facilitating resources and services for the child, and encouraging a collaborative relationship between all parties on the case.
• Monitoring: CASA volunteers keep track of whether the orders of the court, as well as the plans of the child protective services agency, are carried out and report to the court or collaborate with child protective services when those orders and plans are not followed by any of the parties.
• Advocacy: CASA volunteers speak up for and plead the case of the child for whom they are appointed.
Each of these roles is equally important in ensuring your CASA child doesn't fall through the cracks and that they move through the court system as quickly as possible. Because of the work of the CASA, their CASA child is more than just a name on a piece of paper or a file in a filing cabinet in a Judge or attorney's office. CASA volunteers work to make their child a real person to all those involved.