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For
more information please call 415.507.9016.
Whom do I contact to become a CASA volunteer?
What is a CASA?
What is the CASA volunteer’s role?
How does a CASA volunteer investigate a case?
How does a CASA volunteer differ from a social service caseworker?
How does the role of a CASA volunteer differ from an attorney?
Can anyone volunteer to be a CASA?
Is there a “typical” CASA volunteer?
What training does a CASA volunteer receive?
How does the CASA volunteer relate to the child he or she represents?
How many cases on the average does a CASA volunteer carry at a time?
Do lawyers, judges and social caseworkers support CASA?
Does the federal government support CASA?
How many CASA programs are there?
How effective have CASA programs been?
How much time does it require?
How long does a CASA volunteer remain involved with a case?
Are there any other agencies or groups that provide the same service?
What children are assigned CASA volunteers?
What is the role of the National CASA Association?
How is CASA funded?
Marin Advocates for Children -
Marin CASA Program
Volunteer Coordinator: Marcia Miller
marcia@marinadvocates.org
30 N San Pedro #275
San Rafael, CA 94903
Phone: 415.507.9016
fax 415.507.9265
www.marinadvocates.org
A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer is a trained
citizen who is appointed by a judge to represent the best interest
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 CASA volunteer provides a judge with a
carefully researched background of the child to help the court
make a sound decision
about that child’s future. Each case is as unique as
the child involved. The CASA volunteer must determine if it
is in a child’s best interest to stay with, or be reunified
with, his or her parents or guardians; be placed in foster
care; or be freed for permanent adoption. The CASA volunteer
makes recommendations to the judge, and follows through on
the case until it is permanently resolved.
To prepare a recommendation, the CASA volunteer
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
and case worker reports; and other documents.
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Social workers generally are employed by
state governments. They sometimes work on as many as 12 to
15 cases (20-30 children)
at a time and are frequently unable to conduct a comprehensive
investigation of all the circumstances. The CASA is a volunteer
with more time and a smaller caseload (1-2 cases at a time).
The CASA does not replace a social worker on a case; he or
she is an independent appointee of the court. The CASA volunteer
can thoroughly examine a child’s case, has knowledge
of community resources, and can make recommendations to the
court independent of state agency restrictions.
The CASA volunteer provides crucial background
information that assists attorneys in presenting their cases.
The CASA
does not provide legal representation in the courtroom. It
is important to remember that CASAs do not represent a child’s
wishes in court. Rather, they speak to the child’s best
interests. They submit written reports and make recommendations
to the court.
CASA volunteers are ordinary citizens. No special or legal
background is required. Volunteers are screened closely for
objectivity, competence and commitment.
CASA volunteers come from all walks of life, with a variety
of professional, educational, and ethnic backgrounds. In 2003,
there were more than 73,000 CASA volunteers nationally. Local
programs vary in the number of volunteers they utilize. Aside
from their CASA volunteer work, 85 percent are employed in
regular jobs; the majority tend to be professionals. Two-thirds
of the volunteers nationwide are women; one-third are men.
CASA volunteers undergo a thorough training
course conducted by the local CASA program. Training requirements
vary from
program to program, but an average course is approximately
40 hours. Volunteers learn about courtroom procedure from the
principals in the system – from judges, lawyers, social
caseworkers, court personnel, and others. CASA volunteers also
learn effective advocacy techniques for children, and are educated
about specific topics ranging from seminars on child sexual
abuse to discussions on early childhood development and adolescent
behavior.
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CASA volunteers offer children consistency as well as a voice
during complex legal proceedings. They explain to the child
the events that are happening, the reasons they all are in
court, and the roles the judge, lawyers, and social workers
play. CASA volunteers also encourage the child to express his
or her opinions and hopes. By remaining objective observers,
CASA volunteers allow children to trust that, in a time of
trouble, there are adults who will come forward and will help.
The number varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but an
average caseload is two.
Yes. Juvenile and family court judges implement the CASA program
in their courtrooms and appoint the volunteers. CASA has been
endorsed by the American Bar Association, the National Council
of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, and the National Association
of the Public Child Welfare Administrators.
CASA is a priority project of the Department
of Justice’s
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The
office encourages the establishment of new CASA programs, assists
established ones, and provides partial funding for the National
CASA Association.
As of 2003, there were 886 CASA programs in 50 states. New
programs start up at the average rate of four per month.
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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. Judges have observed that CASA children also
have better chances of finding permanent homes than non-CASA
children.
Each case is different. A CASA volunteer
usually spends about 10 hours doing research and conducting
interviews at the start
of a case. Throughout the proceedings, volunteers work about
8 – 18 hours a month, per case.
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 is
a consistent figure in the proceedings, and provides continuity
for the child.
No. There are other child advocacy organizations,
but CASA is the only program where volunteers are appointed
by the court
to represent a child’s best interest.
Children who are victims of abuse and neglect who have become
dependents of the court are assigned CASA volunteers. The program
is most common in juvenile court cases (300 Dependency and
600 Delinquency) and probate cases.
The National CASA Association is a non-profit organization
that represents and serves the local CASA programs. It provides
training, technical assistance, research, news and public awareness
services to members.
At the local level, CASA programs are funded
in a variety of ways, ranging from the state’s Department
of Justice to traditional 501(c)3 funding streams which rely
on individuals
and grants.
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© 2006 Marin Advocates for Children.
All rights reserved. Various trademarks
held by their respective owners. Website designed by SunDesign
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"It's
increasingly difficult for the courts and social workers
to make the system work for families and children.
This is why CASA volunteers are so essential. They
provide valuable information and insight about
individual children . CASA deserves our deep
admiration and support.
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– Marian
Wright Edelman
Founder and President, Children's Defense Fund |
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