FAQs about the role of a CASA
What is a CASA volunteer?
A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer is a trained citizen who is appointed by a judge to represent the best interests of a child in court. These children and youth are removed from their homes due to abuse and neglect, and they often end up in foster care.
What is the CASA volunteer’s role?
Appointed by a family court judge, each CASA is assigned to a single child, or sibling group, at a time to provide the one-on-one attention that others working on the case cannot. CASAs advocate for services on behalf of the youth and connect with all parties involved (including lawyers, case workers, parents, foster parents, educators, and healthcare providers) to deliver a monthly written report on the child’s progress and challenges to the presiding judge. The special advocates also advocate for services the child may need, ranging from educational, medical, mental health. Over time, CASAs provide these of the often-forgotten youth with a consistent adult whom they can rely on.
What kind of advocacy does a CASA do?
The CASA volunteer engages with the child and the stakeholders in their life–parents, family members, social workers, foster parents, school officials, health providers and anyone else knowledgeable about the child’s history. The CASA also reviews all records pertaining to the child–school, medical and caseworker reports, and other documents. CASAs both advocate for the child’s best interest in the outcome of their case as well as to ensure their needs are met while they in the foster care system. Each case is as unique as the child involved. Meet our CASA Volunteers to get an idea of the many things CASAs do to advocate for the children they serve.
How many cases on average does a CASA volunteer carry at a time?
The Boston CASA Program assigns one case at a time to volunteers. The volunteer works with a single child or one group of siblings.
Do lawyers, judges and social caseworkers support CASA?
Yes. Juvenile Court judges implement the CASA program in their courtrooms and appoint Special Advocate. The CASA Program has been endorsed by the American Bar Association, the National Bar Association, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the U.S. Department of Justice.
How effective have CASA programs been?
Research suggests that 95% of the children who have been assigned CASA volunteers tend to spend less time in court and less time within the foster care system than those who do not have CASA representation. Judges have observed that CASA children also have better chances of finding permanent homes than children not supported by a CASA.
How much time does it require?
Each case is different. A CASA volunteer usually spends about 10 hours doing research and conducting interviews prior to the first court appearance. More complicated cases take longer. Once initiated into the system, volunteers work about 10-15 hours a month.
How long does a CASA volunteer remain involved with a case?
The volunteer continues until the case is permanently resolved. One of the primary benefits of the CASA program to the child is that, unlike other court principals who often rotate cases, the CASA volunteer is a consistent figure in the proceedings and provides continuity for a child. The Boston CASA Program requires an 18-month commitment.
