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 juvenile court. Children helped by CASA volunteers include those from whom home placement is being determined in Juvenile Court. Most of the children are victims of a abuse and/or neglect.

What is the CASA Volunteer’s Role?

A CASA volunteer provides a judge with a carefully researched background of a child to help the court make a sound decision about that child’s future. Each case is as unique as the child involved. The CASA volunteer must determine if it is in the child’s best interest to stay with his or her parents or guardians, be placed in foster care or be freed for permanent adoption. The CASA volunteer makes a recommendation on placement to the judge and follows through on the case until it is permanently resolved.

How Does a CASA Volunteer Investigate a Case?

To prepare a recommendation, the CASA volunteer talks with the child, parents, family members, social workers, school officials, health providers, and others who are knowledgeable about the child’s history. The CASA volunteer also reviews all records pertaining to the child i.e. school, medical caseworker reports and other documents.

How Does a CASA Volunteer differ from a Social Service Caseworker?

Social workers are generally employed by state or county governments. They sometimes work as many as 60-90 cases at a time and are frequently unable to conduct a comprehensive investigation of each case. The CASA worker is a volunteer with more time and a smaller caseload ( an average of 1 or 2 if there are siblings). The CASA Volunteer does not replace a social worker on a case; he or she is an independent appointee of the court. The CASA volunteer can thoroughly examine a child’s case, has knowledge of community resources and can make a recommendation to the court independent of state agency restrictions

How Does the role of a CASA Volunteer Differ from an Attorney?

The CASA volunteer does not provide legal representation in the court room. That is the role of the attorney. However, the CASA volunteer does provide crucial background information that assists attorneys in presenting their cases.

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Snail mail us at:

San Bernardino Child Advocacy Program, Inc.
1635 North D Street
San Bernardino, CA
92314-0930

Phone us at: (909) 881-6760

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