Court
Appointed Special Advocates
The mission
of CASA is to expedite the process through which abused and/or neglected
children are found permanent, safe homes and to advocate on the
children's behalf when necessary. A CASA volunteer (Court Appointed
Special Advocate) is a trained community member appointed by the
juvenile court judge to represent the best interest of a child in court
by providing the court with a carefully researched background of the
child. CASA of the Tennessee Heartland is an independent private,
non-profit agency which is a member of the national CASA network which
began in 1977 and is now composed of more than 900 agencies in all fifty
states.
The
CASA volunteer, after investigation, makes recommendations about
placement and services and monitors a case until it is permanently
resolved. The volunteer must determine whether to recommend that it is
in the child's best interest to stay with his or her parents or
guardians, be placed in an alternative home as a foster home, or be
freed for permanent adoption. A volunteer advocates when necessary to
insure that the child is receiving necessary services and watches the
case to be sure that the child does not become lost in a complex system.
In
order to prepare a recommendation the CASA volunteer talks with the
child, parents and other family members, social workers, school
officials, health providers and others who are knowledgeable about the
child. The CASA volunteer also reviews written records pertaining to the
child.
The
CASA volunteer does not replace workers from other agencies involved in
a case. The volunteer is an independent appointee of the court, normally
has only one to three cases at a time, and can make recommendations
independent of state and federal agency restrictions.
CASA
volunteers come from all walks of life with a wide variety of
professional, educational, and ethnic backgrounds. They may be employed,
retired, or not employed as long as there is some daytime availability
for occasional court appearances. Nationally there are more than 52,000
volunteers. Volunteers must pass a comprehensive background check and
screening process.
CASA
volunteers must successfully complete a thorough training course and
then are assigned to shadow a more experienced volunteer prior to having
sole responsibility for a case. The training includes instruction on the
court and child welfare systems, child abuse and neglect, relevant state
and federal laws, permanency planning and family preservation, and the
role and responsibility of a CASA volunteer. There is also in-service
training on a regular basis and volunteers receive ongoing assistance
and support from the CASA staff.
CASA
volunteers offer children trust, advocacy, and continuity during complex
legal proceedings, but a CASA volunteer does not become a friend to the
child or the other parties involved.
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