- What is a CASA?
- Who does a CASA help?
- What does a CASA do?
- Why does a CASA make a difference?
- What is the time commitment for a CASA volunteer?
- What if I don’t have time to be a CASA?
- What support do volunteers receive?
- Who else is involved in a foster child’s life and
how does a CASA fit in?
- Do I need any special background to be a CASA?
- How do I become a CASA volunteer?
- On what legal basis does CASA of Los Angeles operate?
- Does CASA of Los Angeles have the support
of lawyers, judges and social workers?
1) What is a CASA?
A CASA, or Court Appointed Special Advocate, is a trained
and supervised volunteer, appointed by a judge to advocate
for a foster child – a child who is under the court’s
protection because of abuse or neglect.
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2) Who does a CASA
help?
Foster children are victims of severe abuse or neglect who
have become dependents of the Court. CASA of Los Angeles serves
approximately 500 foster children each year. CASAs are assigned
to foster children of all ages, races and ethnicities. Since
CASA volunteers are typically assigned the most challenging
cases, many “CASA kids” have learning disabilities,
physical disabilities, severe emotional and mental problems.
Some are typical kids caught up in difficult situations. All
of them could use the help of someone who cares about them.
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3) What does a CASA
do?
A CASA volunteer provides an independent investigation of
the child’s circumstances for the judge. The CASA gathers
information, writes reports, and makes recommendations to
the judge in the child’s best interests. The CASA meets
with the child, parents, relatives, caregivers, social workers,
teachers, school officials, healthcare providers and others
involved in the child’s life. The CASA volunteer also
reviews records pertaining to the child – school, medical
and caseworker reports, as well as other pertinent documents.
The CASA then provides that information to the judge, to help
the judge make better decisions about the child’s life.
The CASA monitors the child’s case to ensure that all
court orders are followed. CASAs also help coordinate services
for the child, help professionals work together on the child’s
behalf, and research services that will benefit the child.
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4) Why does a CASA
make a difference?
In an overloaded and bureaucratic system, the CASA can be
the one person focused solely on the child’s needs and
concerns. By providing a voice for the child, a CASA can be
the difference between a system that is cold and impersonal
and one that helps the child flourish. Having a CASA to talk
to, to help, to lean on, to provide consistency and concern
in what is often a confusing and indifferent world, gives
children hope. A CASA volunteer offers a child someone to
trust and feel safe with during complex, and sometimes frightening,
legal proceedings. The CASA explains complicated court hearings
to the child, supports them in court and explains all the
various people involved in the child’s case. A CASA
volunteer also listens to the child’s desires and makes
them known to the court, although the CASA will always make
recommendations in the child’s best interests. The CASA
volunteer is often the most stable presence in a foster child’s
life and for many foster children, the CASA volunteer is the
only person who is not paid to care for them.
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5) What is the time
commitment for a CASA volunteer?
CASA of Los Angeles requires approximately 5 hours per week
on case activities, and 12 hours of continuing education each
year. We require a minimum one-year commitment, but a typical
assignment lasts about one and half years, and many last much
longer.
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6) What if I don’t
have time to be a CASA?
You can donate generously to help
CASA of Los Angeles help more kids, and you can get involved
in other ways as well. One way is to join the CASA
Circle of Friends, a group of volunteers that supports
fundraising and outreach efforts. Or, you may wish to serve
as a member of the Friends of CASA’s
Board of Directors.
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7) What support
do volunteers receive?
All CASA volunteers receive 36 hours of training before they
are assigned a case. In addition, each volunteer is assigned
to a professional Program Supervisor who provides technical
assistance, on the job training and moral support. Our Program
Supervisors have nearly a century of combined experience working
in the child welfare system and all have graduate degrees
in human services or child welfare.
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8) Who else is involved
in a foster child’s life and how does a CASA fit in?
Each foster child has a social worker, an attorney and a
court-designated caregiver (e.g., parents, relatives, foster
parents, legal guardian, or other type of caregiver). Whether
or not a foster child lives with his or her parents, they
may continue to play a major part in the child’s life.
Many children have therapists or other professionals helping
them. In addition, all children attend school and may receive
special services at school. A CASA helps integrate the efforts
of all these people, focusing everyone on the child’s
needs and encouraging a “whole-child” approach.
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9) Do I need any
special background to be a CASA?
No. Our CASAs are everyday people just like you. They are
artists, teachers, retirees, sales executives, and stay-at-home
moms. Many work full time while they volunteer. All share
a concern for foster children and a determination to help.
A CASA volunteer must:
- Be 21 years of age or older;
- Have a valid driver’s license and automobile liability
coverage;
- Have own transportation;
- Be fluent in English (bilingual volunteers are especially
needed);
- Have a flexible schedule during business hours to attend
court hearings; and
- Be willing to undergo a criminal background check.
A CASA volunteer cannot be:
- A current foster parent;
- An employee of a group home, residential treatment center
for foster children, or other agency that provides services
for foster children;
- In the process of adopting a child through the dependency
court system; or
- Involved in a dependency court matter.
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10) How do I become
a CASA volunteer?
First, attend an orientation to
learn more about the program. Once you have attended an orientation,
submit an application. After review
of your application you will be invited to an interview with
Program Supervisors. All potential volunteers undergo a criminal
background check, including fingerprinting. Potential volunteers
then participate in 36 hours of training over five days (see
upcoming training schedules). Upon successful completion
of the training, volunteers are sworn by the Presiding Judge
as CASA volunteers.
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11) On what legal
basis does CASA of Los Angeles operate?
The work of CASA volunteers is authorized and governed by
statute (especially the Welfare and Institutions Code, section
100 et seq.), the California Rules of Court (see especially
Rule 1424), local rules of the Los Angeles Superior Court,
and standards established by the National
CASA Association. CASA of Los Angeles is the authorized
CASA program for Los Angeles County.
12) Does CASA of
Los Angeles have the support of lawyers, judges and social
workers?
Yes. Dependency Court Judges appoint volunteers to specific
cases. The American Bar Association, National Bar Association,
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and Office
of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the U.S.
Department of Justice have endorsed CASA. A 2005 survey of
more than 500 judges showed that judges believe that CASA
volunteers do high quality work, and that CASA reports help
judges make decisions and that CASA advocacy helps foster
children.
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