What is a Court Appointed Special Advocate?

How can I help?

First, all of our potential volunteers go through a screening procedure, to help protect the precious children that we serve:

What is a CASA volunteer?

A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer 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 whose home placements are being determined by the court. Most of the children are victims of abuse and/or neglect.

What is the CASA volunteer’s role?

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 home placement 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 his or her parents or guardians, be placed in foster care, or be freed for permanent adoption. The CASA volunteer makes a recommendation on placement to the judge and follows through on the case until it is permanently resolved.

How does a CASA volunteer investigate a case?

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, caseworker reports and other documents.

How long does a CASA volunteer remain involved with a 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 volunteer is a consistent figure in the proceedings and provides continuity for the child.

How many cases on the average does a CASA volunteer carry at one time?

The number varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but an average caseload is 1 to 2 cases.

What children are assigned to CASA volunteers?

Children who are victims of abuse and/or neglect are assigned CASA volunteers. The program is most common in Juvenile and Family Court cases.

How does the volunteer relate to the child he or she represents?

CASA volunteers offer children trust and advocacy during complex legal proceedings. They explain to the child the events that are happening, the reasons they are all in court and the roles the judge, lawyers and social workers play. CASA volunteers also encourage the child to express his or her own opinions and hopes.

How much time does it require?

Each case is different. A CASA volunteer usually spends about 15 to 20 hours doing research and conducting interviews prior to the first court appearance. More complicated cases take longer. Once initiated into the system, volunteers work about 1 to 2 hours a week.

Is there a "typical" CASA volunteer?

CASA volunteers come from all walks of life, with a variety of professional, educational and ethnic backgrounds. Aside from their CASA volunteer work, 85% are employed in regular full-time jobs; the majority tend to be professional. Two-thirds of the volunteers nationwide are women; one-third are men.

Can anyone be a CASA volunteer?

CASA volunteers are ordinary citizens. No special or legal background is required. However, volunteers are screened closely for objectivity, competence and commitment.

What training does a CASA volunteer receive?

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 30 hours. Volunteers learn about courtroom procedures 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.

How does a CASA volunteer differ from a social service caseworker?

Social workers generally are employed by state governments. They sometimes work on as many as 25 to 40 cases at a time. The CASA worker is a volunteer with more time and a smaller caseload (an average of 1 to 2 cases at a time). The CASA volunteer 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 a recommendation to the court independent of state agency restrictions.

How does the role of a CASA volunteer differ from an attorney’s or guardian Ad Litem’s role?

The CASA volunteer does not provide legal representation in the courtroom. That is the role of the attorney. However, the CASA volunteer can provide crucial background information that may assist attorneys in presenting their cases.

Do other agencies, along with lawyers, judges and social caseworkers, support CASA?

Yes. Juvenile and Family Court Judges implement the CASA program in all 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 Public Child Welfare.

Does the federal government support CASA?

CASA is a priority of the Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The office encourages the establishment of new CASA programs, assists established CASA programs, and provides partial funding for the National CASA Association.

How effective have CASA programs been?

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.

Are there any other agencies or groups that provide the same service?

No. There are other child advocacy organizations, but CASA is the only program where volunteers are appointed by the court to have the specific responsibility of looking after the child’s best interest.