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- PURPOSE OF CASA
The overall purpose of this program is to provide Court Appointed Special Advocates for as many of the children in the Delaware County Dependency Court system as possible.
The goal of this project is to accomplish that purpose with the expanded recruitment, training and utilization of additional community volunteer CASAs.
Volunteer CASAs work is to ensure that children who were abused or neglected by their families do not receive further abuse at the hands of an overburdened child welfare system. Community volunteers are trained to investigate the circumstances surrounding the life of the child, and to facilitate a safe permanent home by speaking knowledgeably in the best interest of the child.
Volunteers are assigned one case at a time and therefore can devote time to fact-finding and social aspects of the case.
Volunteers bring a community perspective to the process, allowing for community values to be considered along with recommendations from other professionals by involving community volunteers in the court system. The community is encouraged to find solutions and prevention for the problems of abuse.
DUTIES
Conduct an Independent Investigation - Review all relevant documents and records including, but not limited to, those of the social services department, police, court, physician and school. Direct interviews with the child, parents, social workers, relatives, school personnel, and others having knowledge of the facts in the situation that are crucial in getting a clear picture of the child's life.
Determine the Best Interests of the Child - Many factors should be considered in assessing the best interests of the individual child, including current age and sense of time, level of maturity, culture and ethnicity, and degree of attachment to family members and siblings. Also important to the child's chances for healthy development are continuity, consistency, identity, and a sense of belonging.
Seek Cooperative Solutions - The CASA functions as a mediator among conflicting parties to facilitate the resolution of problems, and initiates positive steps toward achieving permanence for the child.
Provide Written Reports at Every Hearing and Appear at All Hearings - The CASA should ensure that all relevant facts are presented to the court at the time of the hearings.
Explain the Court Proceedings and the Role of the CASA in Terms the Child Can Understand
Make Recommendations for Specific Appropriate Services for the Child and the Child's Family
Monitor Implementation of Service Plans and Court Orders - The follow-up activities in a child's case are critical because this is often where the system fails. The CASA works to promote an environment in which court-ordered services and tasks can be completed in an appropriate and timely manner to accomplish the desired outcome. The CASA should also monitor the court process to assure that hearings are held in a timely manner.
Inform the Court Promptly of Important Developments - The Court should be made aware of an agency's failure to provide a court-ordered service or the family's failure to participate in services. The CASA should ensure, with legal counsel, that appropriate motions are filed on behalf of the child, so that the court can be made aware of changes in the child's circumstances in order to take the appropriate action.
Advocate for the Child's Interests in the Community - The CASA should interface with mental health, educational and other community systems to assure that the child's needs in all these areas are met.
Comments to: CasaInfo@garbco.com
URL: http://www.garbco.com