What Is CASA About?
When a child enters the foster care system because his or her home is no longer safe, a judge may appoint a committed volunteer to help them. That volunteer is called a Court Appointed Special Advocate, or CASA. CASA programs are non-profit organizations that recruit, train and support volunteers to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in foster care. CASA volunteers help guide these children through the foster care system to safe, permanent homes.
Who is a CASA Volunteer?
CASA volunteers are everyday people - teachers, business people, retirees, stay-at-home moms and grandparents - who give their time to help a child or set of siblings through the foster care system. CASAs receive at least 30 hours training prior to working with a child as well as ongoing training and individual support from CASA staff. A CASA volunteer is appointed by a judge in a child protection case to represent the best interests of the child in court, in school, and in agency meetings until the case is closed or until the child finds a safe, permanent home. Unlike everyone else in the child protection system, a CASA volunteer works on one case at a time - one child or a set of siblings. Therefore, CASAs really get to know the child(ren) and their particular needs, and they can give their case the sustained, personal attention it deserves.
What do CASA Volunteers do?
CASA volunteers get to know the child they are appointed to, research case records, and speak to everyone involved in the child's life, including their family members, teachers, doctors, lawyers, social workers and others. They monitor the progress of the child and family in the child protection system. They advocate for the best interests of the child in court, in school, and in agency meetings. They make written and oral recommendations to the court regarding the child's current and future needs. Their independent evaluations help the Judge make informed decisions in the case and help guide the child to a safe, permanent home as quickly as possible.
Do I have to be a lawyer or social worker?
NO. Volunteers from all walks of life become CASAs. After you have been accepted into the CASA program, they will provide you with a minimum of 30 hours of training to prepare you for your role as a volunteer.
Do I have time for this?
Most CASA volunteers work full time and find the CASA experience flexible enough to accommodate their schedules. You will go to court about 4-5 times a year and attend a few daytime meetings. The rest of a CASA volunteer's work is done on their own time - visiting the child, reading reports and records, and meeting, emailing and phoning others involved in the case. Typically, volunteers spend more time on a case in the first weeks after it is assigned, as this is the more intensive fact-finding stage. Over the life of a case, volunteers typically spend an average of 15 hours a month, including travel time and phone calls.
Can I handle this emotionally?
CASA volunteers are assigned to a case after the alleged child abuse or neglect has occurred and the child is placed in foster care. The CASA's focus is on determining the child's current and future needs and advocating for them in court, in school, and in agency meetings. CASA staff provides emotional support and guidance throughout the case and accompanies volunteers to court hearings and important meetings.
What kinds of kids will I be working with?
Children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect are assigned CASA volunteers. These children could be living in an emergency shelter, a foster home, a residential treatment center, or a relative's home. They range in age from newborns to teenagers and from one child on a case to a large sibling group. Of course, volunteers can choose an age range that they prefer to work with and also whether they'd prefer to work with a sibling group or only one child. Our goal is to provide a CASA to every child who needs one.
Will I be safe?
Yes. From the parents' perspective, CASA volunteers are not associated with CPS, the entity that removes the children from the home. Parents generally respect the CASA's position as a volunteer advocate for their children. Additionally, CASA volunteers are never expected or encouraged to place themselves in dangerous situations. They meet with the child's family in secure locations such as the CPS office or the courthouse.
What kinds of people serve as CASA volunteers?
Being a CASA volunteer requires no specialized degree or legal experience. It does require special people over the age of 21 who have:
- A concern for children
- A genuine desire to help
- The ability to remain objective
- The maturity to deal with emotional situations
- The commitment to complete an extensive (30 hours minimum) training course
- Sensitivity to people who are different from themselves
- Access to transportation and a flexible schedule, and
- A willingness to devote at least a year to complete an assigned case
How do I know what to recommend to the Judge in a case?
CASA volunteers make recommendations about what is in the best interest of the child based on their interactions with the child, review of educational, medical, and therapeutic records, interviews with the CPS caseworker, the attorney for the child, the foster parents, teachers, relatives, parents, and the CASA supervisor, and their CASA training.
Why would the Judge listen to me?
The Judge appoints CASA to represent the best interests of the child and make recommendations to the court. Judges respect CASA volunteers and take their recommendations into account when making decisions because they realize that CASA volunteers are involved in the case solely to advocate for the child's best interests. Judges report that they would like more CASA volunteers in order to be able to provide CASA service to more children, and that, in the meantime, they assign CASA to children who will need the most help.
Will my time make a difference?
Absolutely! CASA volunteers offer children a positive role model, a consistent helping hand to guide them through the foster care system, and a strong voice advocating on their behalf in court, school, and agency meetings. As a result, children represented by CASA are more likely to:
- Receive the services and resources they and their families need;
- Maintain stable placements while in foster care; and
- Avoid the court system once their case is dismissed.
Additionally, CASA has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice as a model juvenile delinquency prevention program. When CASA's involvement in a child's case prevents later juvenile delinquency and placement, the investment in CASA representation for that one child will have paid off 40 TIMES over.
How does a CASA volunteer differ from an attorney?
A CASA does not provide legal representation in the courtroom. A CASA speaks specifically to what is in the best interest of the child, taking into account what a child may want without being bound to it. CASA provides crucial background information that assists attorneys in presenting their cases.
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 represent a child's best interests.
I'm ready to get started. What's the next step?
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer advocate, contact CASA of Ellis County through this website. Submit your Volunteer Application and Background Check Form (these can be found under "Forms") and set up a Pre-Training Interview. Once you have submitted your paperwork and been interviewed, you will be ready to start training.