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CASA Volunteers
A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is a trained citizen who is appointed by a judge to represent the best interests of a child in court. Children helped by CASA volunteers include those for whom home placement is being determined in juvenile court. Most of the children are victims of abuse and neglect.
A Volunteer's Role
The CASA volunteer provides a judge with carefully researched background of the child to help the court make a sound decision about that child's future.
CASA volunteers come from all walks of life, with a variety of professional, educational and ethnic backgrounds. There are more than 45,000 CASA volunteers nationally. Aside from their CASA volunteer work, 54% are employed in regular full-time jobs.
CASA volunteers are ordinary citizens. No special or legal background is required. Volunteers are screened closely for objectivity, competence and commitment.
Investigating a Case
To prepare a report for the court, a CASA talks with the child, parents, family members, social workers, school officials, health providers and others who are knowledgeable about the child's history. The CASA volunteer also reviews all records pertaining to the child--school, medical, caseworker reports and other documents.
CASA vs. Social Service
Social workers are generally employed by state governments. They sometimes work on as many as 60-90 cases at a time and are frequently unable to conduct a comprehensive investigation of each. The CASA volunteer can devote more time because of a smaller caseload (an average of 1 to 2 cases). The CASA volunteer does not replace a social worker, but acts as an independent appointee of the Court.
CASA vs. Attorneys
The CASA does not provide legal representation in the courtroom, but provides crucial background information that assists attorneys in presenting their cases.
Volunteer Training
CASA volunteers undergo a thorough training course. While training requirements vary from state to state, the average course is 40 hours. Volunteers learn about courtroom procedure from the principals in the system. They also learn effective advocacy techniques for children, and are educated about specific topics ranging from child sexual abuse to early childhood development and adolescent behavior.
Time Required
Each case is different and varies in the amount of time spent. A CASA volunteer usually spends on an average of 10-15 hours per month working on a case.
Case Duration
The volunteer continues until the case is permanently resolved. One of the primary benefits of the CASA program is that, unlike other court principals who often rotate cases, the CASA volunteer is a consistent figure in the proceedings and provides an important continuity for a child.
Volunteer-Child Relations
CASA volunteers offer children trust and advocacy during complex legal proceedings. Sensitive to the age of the child, the CASA explains the events that are taking place, the reasons they are in court and the roles of the judge, lawyers and social workers. CASA volunteers also encourage the child to express his or her own opinion and hopes, while remaining objective observers themselves.
CASA Supporters
Lawyers, Judges and Social Service Caseworkers support CASA. Juvenile and family court judges appoint the CASA volunteer as a special advocate for the child. CASA has been endorsed by the American Bar Association, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and the office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Existing CASA Programs
There are currently over 700 CASA programs in 50 U.S.A. states, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands. In 1997, volunteers spoke for an estimated 160,000 abused and neglected children.
CASA Success
Preliminary findings show that children who have been assigned CASA volunteers tend to spend less time in court and less time within the foster care system than those who do not have CASA representation. Also, Judges have observed that the CASA children have better chances of finding permanent homes than non-CASA children.
Other Agencies/Groups
While there are other child advocacy organizations, CASA is the only program where volunteers are appointed by the court to represent a child's best interest.
The Children
Children who are victims of abuse and neglect who have become wards of the court are assigned CASA volunteers. The program is most common in juvenile and family court cases.
The National CASA Association
The National CASA Association is a non-profit organization that represents and serves the local CASA programs. It provides training, technical assistance, research, media and public awareness services to members.
CASA Locations
CASA programs are known by a variety of names. If you cannot find a program in your area, contact the National CASA Association at 800-628-3233. For more information call us at 610-565-2208.
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