You may or may not have ever heard about the Court Appointed State Advocate, or CASA program. If you have heard of the CASA program you still may not have any idea what it is and how it applies to children. The title of this position is not a real indication of what a CASA is responsible for. The title lacks the two most important terms of all: Child Advocate.
The CASA program was born when a Seattle Washington judge was concerned about his decisions of how to handle cases with abused and neglected children’s lives without sufficient information. This judge decided to use trained community volunteers to speak for the best interests of these children in court. The program was such a great success in Seattle that very soon judges across the country decided to use citizen advocates.
In 1990, the U.S. Congress took a position to back expansion of CASA with passage of the Victims of Child Abuse Act. There are now over 900 CASA program offices in operation, across the United States. Each with trained community members serving as CASA volunteers.
It can be difficult to define, “What Child Advocate or a CASA is?” But, very simply, they are trained volunteers who make a difference in the lives of children. Volunteers are assigned to cases of children who are victims of life-threatening abuse or neglect. As a result of the abuse or neglect these children have been placed in foster care or protective custody.
CASA volunteers are trained to understand the foster care system and maintain:
- Contact with caseworkers,
- Stay in touch with biological foster and adoptive parents,
- Ensure medical care is being provided for the child.
- Pay attention to the educational needs and resources for the child.
- Make recommendations in court regarding the permanent placement of the child.
- Become involved with the Child’s life and the important events, they may even throw birthday parties.
Most importantly, they serve as a constant person for a child to count on during a very difficult and scary time in their lives. Basically, a CASA volunteer does whatever it takes to ensure the needs of the child are being met while the child is in foster care. The CASA generally remains involved after a child has been placed in an adoptive family while waiting for the adoption to be final. Adoptive families often value the information a CASA may have, and dedication their child’s CASA has provided.
There are several National Groups that support the Volunteers who are willing and able to be trained and follow a child’s case from start to finish while in the system:
- MISSION Statement:
Child Advocates, Inc. mobilizes court appointed volunteers to break the vicious cycle of child abuse. We speak up for abused children who are lost in the system and guide them into safe environments where they can thrive.
- Mission Statement is Together with its state and local members, is to support and promote court-appointed volunteer advocacy for abused and neglected children so that they can thrive in safe, permanent homes.
- The National CASA Association works with state and local CASA and volunteer guardian ad litem programs to promote and support quality volunteer advocacy to help assure each child a safe, permanent, nurturing home.
Another wonderful website for community members interested in helping to advocate for children is CASANet.org. Where interested citizens and community members can find helpful and supportive resources.
All of the links above will lead you to information about the National CASA programs and help you find out if there is a CASA program in your community. If not there is also support for starting a CASA in your state or county.
You may not be able to foster or adopt a child but, you may be able to be the one constant person for a child during their journey through foster care.
Photo credits for this blog entry: OBRAPRIMA uma empresa que marca
Notice of use given 3/2/06
Special Needs and Adoption-Related Terms:
A | B | C | D | E-F | G-H-I | J-K-L | M | N-O | P | Q-R | S | T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z
For more information about parenting special needs children you might want to visit the Families.com Special Needs Blog and the Mental Health Blog. Or visit my personal website.