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5 people are interested
Tippecanoe County CASA - Children Need You!
ORGANIZATION: Tippecanoe County CASA
Please visit the new page to apply.
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5 people are interested
What is a CASA volunteer?
A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is a trained community volunteer who is appointed by a judge to represent the best interests of an abused or neglected child victim in court. CASA volunteers are able to focus on the child and their needs while they are in the system. (I.C. 31-34-10-3)
What is the CASA volunteer’s role?
A CASA volunteer provides the judge with a carefully researched background of the child to help the court make a sound decision about the child’s future. Each case is as unique as the child involved. The CASA volunteer must determine what is in a child’s best interest. The CASA volunteer makes recommendations regarding necessary services and placement options 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 Department of Child Services case manager, the child, parents, family members, case managers, 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, case manager reports, and other pertinent documents.
How does a CASA volunteer differ from a Department of Child Services Family Case Manager (DCS FCM)?
Case managers are employed by the state government. They sometimes work on a large number of cases at a time and are sometimes unable to conduct a comprehensive ongoing investigation of each case. The CASA volunteer has a smaller caseload (an average of 1-2 cases at a time). The CASA volunteer does not replace the Department of Child Services Case Manager. The CASA is an independent appointee of the court. The CASA volunteer works with the DCS FCM to insure that the case moves forward in a timely manner. 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 may be prevail.
How does the role of a CASA volunteer differ from an attorney?
The CASA volunteer does not provide legal representation; that is the role of the attorney. However, the CASA volunteer does provide crucial background information that assists the attorney in presenting their cases. 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 judgement to determine whether those wishes are actually in the best interest of the child. A CASA Volunteer represents the best interest for children, which is not always the same as what the child wants.
Is there a "typical" CASA volunteer?
CASA volunteers come from all walks of life with a variety of educational and ethnic backgrounds. There are more than 70,000 CASA volunteers nationally.
Do lawyers and judges support CASA?
Yes. Juvenile and family court judges implement the CASA program in their courtrooms and appoint volunteers. The American Bar Association, the National Bar Association, the National Counsel of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, and the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Judges and Delinquency Prevention have endorsed CASA.
Does the federal government support CASA?
CASA is a priority project of the Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The office encourages the establishment of new CASA programs, assists established CASA programs, and provides partial funding for the National CASA Association.
How effective have CASA programs been?
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 also observed that children assigned to a CASA also have better chances of finding permanent homes than children not assigned to a CASA.
How much time does it require?
The initial training is a comprehensive series that takes 30 hours to complete, prior to becoming a CASA volunteer. Upon the completion of the training and being sworn in as an officer of the court, then the CASA is appointed to a case.
Although 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 on their cases about 8-12 hours per month. Some cases because of the complexity may require more time.
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 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.
Are there other agencies or groups that provide the same service?
There are other pro bono child advocacy organizations, but 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.
What children are assigned CASA volunteers?
Children who are victims of abuse and neglect who have become wards of the court are assigned CASA volunteers. The Juvenile court may also choose to appoint a CASA to an Informal Adjustment, Juvenile Delinquency case or a Collaborative Care case.
What is the role of the National CASA Association?
The National CASA Association is a non-profit organization that provides training, technical assistance, research, media and public awareness services to members. National CASA works with state and local CASA and Guardian Ad Litem programs to promote and support quality volunteer advocacy to help assure each child a safe, permanent, nurturing home.
How is CASA funded?
The local program is funded through county funds, state funds, private funds, and grants. The National CASA Association is funded through a combination of private grants, federal funds (US Justice Department), memberships and private contributions.
Does National CASA have a web site?
Yes. www.tippecanoe.in.gov/casa
More opportunities with Tippecanoe County CASA
No additional volunteer opportunities at this time.
About Tippecanoe County CASA
Location:
County Courthouse, 301 Main St, Lafayette, IN 47901, US
Mission Statement
The mission of the Tippecanoe County CASA Program is to recruit, train, and support community volunteers who advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the court system. We promote and support quality volunteer representation for children to provide each child a safe, permanent, and nurturing home.
Description
Every year more than half a million abused and neglected children are in need of safe, permanent, nurturing homes. That's where CASA steps in. CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) was created in 1977 to make sure the abuse and neglect these children originally suffered at home doesn't continue as abuse and neglect at the hands of the system. As trained advocates, CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to be a voice for these children in court. The result is that a child is placed into a safe, loving home where he/she can thrive. It is the CASA vision to provide a volunteer for each and every abused and neglected child who needs one.
CAUSE AREAS
WHEN
WHERE
10 N 3rd StreetLafayette, IN 47901
DATE POSTED
September 6, 2019
SKILLS
- Youth Services
- Child Welfare
- Crisis Intervention
- Community Outreach
GOOD FOR
- People 55+
REQUIREMENTS
- Driver's License Needed
- Background Check
- Must be at least 21
- Orientation or Training
- The initial training is 30 hours. After the initial training, should expect to contribute 10-15 hours a month.
- Have a concern and interest in children, their rights and unique needs.. Have time to devote to training sessions, investigation and follow up of assigned cases.