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CASA, which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates, recruits, screens, trains, and supervises volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children involved in the court system to help secure a permanent, safe home.
Volunteers are carefully screened and must complete 30 hours of initial training before being assigned to a case. Volunteer trainings will be held through various times throughout the year. Once assigned to a case, volunteers make phone calls and visits with the child, family members, therapists, caseworkers, lawyers, teachers, and others involved in the child's life. Volunteers attend court hearings and meetings on behalf of the child and advocate for the child's best interest. They also prepare written reports for the court which describe the information gathered and recommendations for securing a permanent, safe home for the child. Staff closely supervises each case and is available to assist and advise volunteers as needed.
A CASA volunteer's role is to provide information to the Court on behalf of a child in the custody of Chambers or Liberty County CPS. A CASA volunteer is assigned as Guardian ad item for the child by the presiding judge.
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Interview all parties, clients, and professionals, as well as the child/children involved in the assigned case
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Maintain records of all findings
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Confers with the volunteer supervisor on a regular basis
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Attend all court hearings to represent the child's best interest
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Discuss court reports with the volunteer supervisor prior to preparing the report
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Prepare court reports by the deadline give nao
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Attend case staffing whenever possible
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Visit the child monthly
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Monitor your case to ensure court orders are being carried out, that services are being furnished to the child and the parents, and that the placement for the child is appropriate
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Work towards permanency for the child whether that means returning the child to their home or freeing him/her for adoption
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Participate in continuing education. |
