A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is a trained and committed volunteer who ensures that each child’s individual needs remain a priority in an overburdened child welfare system. CASAs are appointed by a Judge to advocate for the best interests of children who are removed from a home due to abuse and/or neglect.
CASA volunteers become an official part of the judicial proceedings and work alongside attorneys and social workers in a Child Protective Services (CPS) case. They are entitled to access information about the child’s situation and required to make reports to the court in the child’s best interest.
By handling one or two cases at a time, CASAs can thoroughly explore the history of each assigned case. They talk with the child(ren), parents, family members, neighbors, school officials, counselors, doctors, and anyone else significantly involved in the child’s life that might have facts about the case. They review all court documents and then prepare and submit a formal report to the judge at the scheduled hearing or case review. They monitor the case to assure that the judicial and child welfare systems are moving ahead to secure a dafe, permanent home for the child and that court-ordered services are provided to the child and family as appropriate. A CASA is a critical resource to the child, attorney, social worker, and judge in reaching the goal of safe and permanent placement for the child.
MORE LIKELY TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL
MORE LIKELY TO FIND A SAFE, PERMANENT HOME
HALF AS LIKELY TO RE-ENTER THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM
Judges value CASA’s recommendations, which help them make informed decisions in the child’s best interest. The CASA is often the most constant person in that child’s life and sometimes the one constant presence they’ve known. This volunteer exists in their life to truly know then and represent their wishes in court.
Children who have CASAs assigned to their cases are often placed in permanent homes faster than those without and have greater access to more community services. When safe to do so, it is in children’s best interest to stay connected to their families of origin.
For children who’ve experienced abuse or neglect, CASA means having a home instead of feeling lost, and being a priority instead of feeling invisible.
For the volunteers, CASA is a life-changing experience that reminds us we can each make our community better pace, one child at a time.
Here is what it takes to be a CASA-EP Volunteer:
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