A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)
is a volunteer appointed by the court to advocate for the best interests of a child who has been abused or neglected.
To do this, the CASA must research the facts of the case, help develop a family plna, collaborate with all parties on the case, and report to the court the current status of the families progression.
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Examples of Duties:
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Establish a relationship with the child to better understand the child's needs and desires;
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Interview appropriate parties involved in the case;
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Review available records regarding the child's family history, education, development, and health;
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Submit written reports to the CASA staff for each court hearing;
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Appear at court hearings to make recommendations to the court;
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Ensure that the court-approved plans for the child are being implemented;
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Maintain complete records regarding the case;
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Identify and explore potential resources that will facilitate a permanent plan for the child; and
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Communicate and coordinate efforts with the child's social worker, GAL, and other relevant parties.
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Prerequisites:
- Submit three names as references on a volunteer application with complete Name, Address, and Phone Number.
- No criminal convictions or pending charges for a felony or misdemeanor involving a sex offense, child abuse or neglect, or acts that would pose risks to children or the CASA program's credibility;
- Participate in a screening interview and allow for background checks prior to training;
- Minimum age is 21
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Requirements of a CASA:
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Attend all basic training sessions, approximately 40 hours in length, including observing court procedures and researching a community resource;
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Maintain strict confidentiality;
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Complete twelve additional hours of annual in-service training each year;
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After basic training, serve as a CASA for at least one child for at least one year;
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Maintain an up-to-date and comprehensive file on each case assigned;
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Adhere to deadlines and timetables involving an assigned case, and turn in all reports on time;
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Participate in an annual evaluation.
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Selection Factors:
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Interest in children, their rights and special needs;
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Time to devote to training sessions and research and follow-up on an assigned case;
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Ability to collaborate effectively;
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Ability to problem solve;
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Ability to be objective and see the possibility for change in a family;
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Excellent written and oral communication skills;
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Commitment to the mission of the CASA program;
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Access to the Internet a plus, but not a requirement.
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Benefits
Involvement in the CASA program provides an opportunity to have a potential impact on the quality of a child's life; to enhance written and oral communication skills, as well as collaboration skills, to gain an understanding of the State of West Virginia abuse and neglect proceedings and child welfare systems, and to increase awareness of child abuse and neglect. |
