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Why do we need CASA?
As adults come and go in these children's lives, they need one adult
to stay for the length of the cases, someone who develops a knowledge
of this particular child's needs. With this individualized advocacy,
we may prevent a child from falling through the cracks of the system.
The system is over loaded now. Every child has only one childhood
and we can not waste this precious time. In theory, we should be
working ourselves out of a job, eventually giving each child the
individual attention they deserve.
Why do you need CASAs if you have caseworkers and attorneys?
These professionals many times have too many cases, which makes it physically impossible to be all the places you should be to check on these children. With another source of information, the saying “two heads are better than one!” applies here. Judges rule on the information they receive.
What is the difference between CASA and the Foster Care Review Board (FCRB)?
The FCRB is a panel of individuals who review reports organized by a FCRB Review Specialist. They seldom see the child in person. They listen to those participants who agree to attend the review hearings.
What makes this program different?
This is the only volunteer organization that is directly connected to the court and appointed by a Judge. Judges request that a CASA be assigned to a case.
Who are CASA volunteers?
CASA volunteers are individuals from the community who are trained to advocate for abused and neglected children. They are required to commit to one year with a child, but seldom leave a case until it has been terminated.
CASA volunteers submit an application with references, complete an oral interview with the program director, and attend training. A complete criminal history and child abuse registry check are done on each application. Upon completion of their training, they attend a swearing-in ceremony with the juvenile court judge and promise to maintain strict confidentiality and professionalism throughout their appointment.
What training is involved?
Each CASA volunteer receives a minimum of 30 hours of in-class training, which includes information on the court process, interviewing, abuse issues, report writing, etc. professionals who are involved with the local court and child protective services are part of the training. In addition volunteers must complete 12 hours of in-service training yearly which is offered by the local and state CASA programs.
What do CASAs do?
CASAs visit the child and all the professionals; family, foster parents, etc. involved and submit a written report to the court. They also monitor the Case Plan and help the plan stay on track.
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