CASA volunteers advocate for abused or neglected children in the family justice system. They investigate cases, determine the child’s desires, and attend hearings. More volunteers are needed to serve the half of children who do not have a CASA volunteer.
Those who choose to volunteer as a court-appointed special advocate (CASA) make a very important commitment to a child. Also known as Child Advocates, Voices for Children or Guardians ad Litem, a CASA volunteer advocates for abused or neglected children facing a cold family justice system. While this system seeks to work in a child’s best interests, the child’s true interests often get lost among the bureaucracy, lawyers, social workers, and parents. A CASA volunteer works to be that child’s voice, to help a child articulate her wants and needs, ensuring that all system resources are used for the child’s benefit.
Today, there are more than 50,000 CASA volunteers nationwide, serving approximately 225,000 children annually. Unfortunately, this only accounts for half of the children who pass through the system each year. Since a CASA volunteer only handles one case at a time, more volunteers are always needed.
A community member can serve in one of 900 CASA local community offices, where they will undergo a background check and 30-hour training. A CASA volunteer is expected to provide as many hours as needed for the case. Typically, a case will take about ten hours a month, and the average case lasts about a year and a half. The CASA volunteer will stay with the child throughout the entire case which is in the best interests of the child. This benefits the child because social workers and lawyers – who also have to juggle numerous other cases – can come and go.
Once a CASA volunteer has a case, they are expected to perform several tasks. The first is to conduct your own investigation into the case by examining the court records and accounts of the social workers, doctors, lawyer and any other pertinent reports. They may also interview the child, family members and foster parents to get a clear picture of the situation. The volunteer usually has to spend a lot of time getting to know the child to get to know him and gain her trust. He will also try to put the child at ease by explaining his situation and answering questions about the case.
The CASA volunteer helps the child determine his or her desire for the outcome of the case, as well as determine what will work best in the situation the child is in. the attorney’s goal is to create a solution that takes into account not only the wishes of the child, but also what is in the best interests of the child with respect to many factors.
The CASA volunteer appears at all hearings and meetings related to the child’s case to monitor the progress of the case, as well as to make recommendations on behalf of the child and ensure that the child is adequately represented. It also follows up to ensure recommendations are implemented properly and to report to the court if certain requirements are not met or if the child does not receive the resources they have been allocated.
Depending on how dedicated the CASA volunteer is, they may continue to keep in touch with the children, even after they have been out of the system. Many of these dedicated community members truly care for these children and certainly make a very positive contribution to the social services system.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
