CASA Or Court Appointed Special Advocates
CASA or court appointed special advocates are an organization made up of ordinary citizens who volunteer to act as agents or spokespersons of the court, in cases involving abused and or neglected children. What is remarkable about this special organization is that CASA special advocates are selected by a judge to communicate on behalf of an abused or neglected child; something that many children involved in the system do not get to experience.
The court appointed special advocates (CASA) was established after a Seattle court judge determined he was uncomfortable ruling on cases involving child abuse and neglect without appropriate and substantial information regarding these cases. And in 1977 the idea was developed that extensively trained community volunteers would advocate on behalf of the abused and or neglected children in his court. There are currently more than 949 court appointed special advocate programs in the United States to date and all of the programs provide everything needed to speak on behalf of the neglected and or abused children in the system, representing the child’s best interest only. CASA volunteers generally only handle one cause/case at a time and …show more content…
follow his or her case until the child is in a stable and permanent home. This provides a constant and regular individual advocating on behalf of the child especially when the turn over rate is so high in social work.
Although there is no particular education or qualifications needed to become a court appointed special advocate and individuals from all walks of life are encouraged to volunteer, there are a few requirements, which include the following:
• Being 21 years of age or older.
• Willingness to complete and pass all required background checks, providing references, and engaging in the interview process.
• Willingness to finish a pre-service training with a minimum of 30 hours.
• Appear at court hearings when proved with notices
• Willingness to commit to a case for the duration, typically a year and a half.
Since CASA volunteers are selected by judges and are needed to advocate for them in settings such as courtrooms and hearings, CASA volunteers do have responsibilities, which include the
following:
• Investigate, review, and analysis of all documents and records regarding the case assigned, interview all significant individuals in the case i.e., children, family members, doctors all while remembering to take the child’s feelings and thoughts into consideration.
• Appear at all hearings and provide written reports with findings and recommendations.
• Provide testimony at court hearings when necessary advocating for the child’s best interest.
• Explain and help the child discern what is happening.
• Facilitate cooperation and peace among any conflicting parties, promote and aid resolution.
• Recommend necessary services for the child and family involved this includes concerns regarding education and child’s mental and medical health.
• Make sure all case plans and court orders are being followed and ordered update hearings are being held.
• Inform and provide the court with any and all new developments regarding the case this includes non-participation, failing to provide services, and motions to be filed.
There is a tremendous urgency for more court appointed special advocates nation wide; considering more than 600,000 children will experience the foster care system each year. Just like the child welfare system there are not enough court appointed special advocates to represent each and every child involved in the foster care system, leaving only the most severe cases assigned a CASA advocate. As an individual who sees her future working with abused and neglected children I can only hope more organizations such as CASA will develop to help protect our most precious asset and future “children”. All children need to be guided through life especially when a child has experienced abuse and or neglect. Every child deserves a stable and safe environment to grow up in. As more organizations and individuals work together to get involved in the fight against abuse and neglect the number of cases will become less. I can only hope that my future will hold the opportunity to have a direct immediate impact on another human being.
The court appointed special advocates (CASA) was established after a Seattle court judge determined he was uncomfortable ruling on cases involving child abuse and neglect without appropriate and substantial information regarding these cases. And in 1977 the idea was developed that extensively trained community volunteers would advocate on behalf of the abused and or neglected children in his court. There are currently more than 949 court appointed special advocate programs in the United States to date and all of the programs provide everything needed to speak on behalf of the neglected and or abused children in the system, representing the child’s best interest only. CASA volunteers generally only handle one cause/case at a time and …show more content…
follow his or her case until the child is in a stable and permanent home. This provides a constant and regular individual advocating on behalf of the child especially when the turn over rate is so high in social work.
Although there is no particular education or qualifications needed to become a court appointed special advocate and individuals from all walks of life are encouraged to volunteer, there are a few requirements, which include the following:
• Being 21 years of age or older.
• Willingness to complete and pass all required background checks, providing references, and engaging in the interview process.
• Willingness to finish a pre-service training with a minimum of 30 hours.
• Appear at court hearings when proved with notices
• Willingness to commit to a case for the duration, typically a year and a half.
Since CASA volunteers are selected by judges and are needed to advocate for them in settings such as courtrooms and hearings, CASA volunteers do have responsibilities, which include the
following:
• Investigate, review, and analysis of all documents and records regarding the case assigned, interview all significant individuals in the case i.e., children, family members, doctors all while remembering to take the child’s feelings and thoughts into consideration.
• Appear at all hearings and provide written reports with findings and recommendations.
• Provide testimony at court hearings when necessary advocating for the child’s best interest.
• Explain and help the child discern what is happening.
• Facilitate cooperation and peace among any conflicting parties, promote and aid resolution.
• Recommend necessary services for the child and family involved this includes concerns regarding education and child’s mental and medical health.
• Make sure all case plans and court orders are being followed and ordered update hearings are being held.
• Inform and provide the court with any and all new developments regarding the case this includes non-participation, failing to provide services, and motions to be filed.
There is a tremendous urgency for more court appointed special advocates nation wide; considering more than 600,000 children will experience the foster care system each year. Just like the child welfare system there are not enough court appointed special advocates to represent each and every child involved in the foster care system, leaving only the most severe cases assigned a CASA advocate. As an individual who sees her future working with abused and neglected children I can only hope more organizations such as CASA will develop to help protect our most precious asset and future “children”. All children need to be guided through life especially when a child has experienced abuse and or neglect. Every child deserves a stable and safe environment to grow up in. As more organizations and individuals work together to get involved in the fight against abuse and neglect the number of cases will become less. I can only hope that my future will hold the opportunity to have a direct immediate impact on another human being.