Q.
What
is a CASA volunteer?
A. A
CASA volunteer is a trained lay person from the community who has been
sworn in as an officer of the court to represent the best interest of
abused and/or neglected children in court proceedings.
Q.
What is the role of a CASA volunteer?
A. A
CASA volunteer's role is to discover and examine all facts relevant to
a case in order to formulate a court report. This report states
the CASA volunteer's recommendations as to what he or she believes is
in the child's best interest for a permanent home.
Q.
How does a CASA volunteer investigate a case?
A.
To prepare a recommendation, the CASA volunteer talks with 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 -- school,
medical and caseworker reports, and other documents
Q.
How does a CASA volunteer differ from a social service caseworker?
A. The
roles are not the same. The CASA volunteer is independent from
the social services system and focuses solely on the child. The
Children's Division caseworker serves the family - parents and child -
by providing direct services. The case workers may have 20 or
more cases at a time and are frequently
unable to conduct a a comprehensive investigation of each. The
CASA volunteer has more time and a smaller caseload (an average of one
case at a time). 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.
Q.
How does the role of a CASA volunteer differ from an attorney?
A.
A CASA volunteer is able to spend as much time as it takes to gather
information about the child and the child's family. A CASA
volunteer serves at the request of a judge and provides a report on
the best placement for a child. If a court had to pay an
attorney to do this job, it would be too costly. A child's
attorney provides legal representation. It is important to remember that CASA volunteers do not represent a
child's wishes in court. Rather, they tell the court what the
child's wishes are, and then they exercise their own independent
judgment to determine whether those wishes are actually in the best
interest of the child.
Q.
How does the CASA volunteer relate to the child he or she represents?
A.
CASA volunteers offer children trust and advocacy during complex
legal proceedings. They explain to the child the events that are
happening, the reasons they all are in court, and the roles the judge,
lawyers, and social workers play. CASA volunteers also encourage
the child to express his or her own opinion, hopes, and goals, while remaining
objective observers.
Q.
How many cases does a CASA volunteer carry at a time?
A.
A caseload is one, two under certain circumstances.
Q.
Does the court listen to what a CASA has to say?
A.
YES! Judges know their decisions are only as good as the information
they receive. They count on CASA volunteers to be an independent
voice and they know that CASA volunteers have more time to focus on
specific cases. A CASA volunteer who can tell the court "I
was there - this is what I observed" can be invaluable.
Q.
How effective have CASA programs been?
A.
Research suggests that 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 a better chance of
finding permanent homes than non-CASA children.
Q.
How much time does it require?
A.
Each case is different. A CASA volunteer usually spends about 10
hours doing research and conducting interviews prior to the first
court appearance. Once
initiated into the system, volunteers continue to work about 4-6 hours a month.
Many CASAs have full or part time jobs and also find time to advocate
for a child.
Q.
How long does a CASA volunteer remain involved with a case?
A.
The volunteer continues until the case is permanently resolved.
One of the primary benefits of the CASA program is that the CASA volunteer is a
consistent figure in the proceedings and provides continuity for a
child.
Q.
Are there any other agencies or groups that provide the same service?
A.
CASA is
the only national program using carefully screened and trained
community volunteers who are appointed by the court to represent a
child's best interests.
Q.
How is CASA of Southeast Missouri funded?
A.
CASA of Southeast Missouri is funded through United Way (33%), State
monies (8%), and donations/fundraising events (59%).
Q.
Who do I contact if I am interested?
A.
If you are interested
in becoming a CASA volunteer, please
download the application packet and contact
us at 573.335.1726.
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