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The responsibility of the Court-Appointed Special Advocate is to plead the best interests of the child before a judicial court. They are appointed by judges to watch over and advocate for abused and neglected children, to make certain the children don’t get lost in the overburdened legal and social service system or languish overlong in inappropriate group or foster homes.

Children are a valuable future resource. When allowed to grow and develop haphazardly, they can create serious problems for society. Helping to keep these young vulnerable citizens on a positive path is a job of great importance and deserves the CASA full and committed attention.

What qualities make a good child advocate? Such a person is one who...

• Makes no judgment until relevant information has been thoroughly gathered.
• Keeps a focus on the goal of a stable permanent home.
• Knows the child and the living situation.
• Is aware of pros and cons of possible alternative options.
• Knows the law about review hearings, mandated deadlines and financial incentives.
• Prepares a written report to present in court based on his or her own personal observations and knowledge. He or she should never simply parrot the recommendations of the other parties.

In practice, a child advocate should care about only one issue: the child’s best interests. Every other party or participant in the child’s case plan presumably has an agenda that includes the best interests of others, so in this respect the CASAs recommendation to the court is unique. For example, state law may require a birth parent to meet a bare minimum standard to get a child returned. Meeting that minimum standard, however, should not automatically guarantee reunification. The advocate’s job is to include this information in providing an opinion about the best interests of the child. The advocate’s ultimate recommendation to the court should be wholly independent.