CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate)

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A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is a trained community volunteer who is appointed by a judge to advocate for the best interests of an abused or neglected child who is in foster care. The CASA volunteer gathers information about the child's situation, attends court proceedings and makes a written recommendation to the judge so that the judge has the information to make a decision about the child's future. How to become a CASA:

• Sincerely care for the well-being of children
• Be at least 21 years of age
• Complete an application, including references, interview and a brief autobiography
• Undergo a criminal background check
• Complete 40 hours of training
• Have good verbal and written communication skills
• Have the ability to be objective and non-judgmental
• Be available to attend court hearings
• Commit to CASA program for at least one year or until case is resolved
• Be sworn-in by the judge

CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to advocate for the best interests of abused and neglected children in court and other settings. The primary responsibilities of a CASA volunteer are to:

• Gather information: Review documents and records, interview the children, family members and professionals in their lives.
• Document findings: Provide written reports at court hearings.
• Appear in court: Advocate for the child's best interests and provide testimony when necessary.
• Explain what is going on: Help the childunderstand the court proceedings.
• "Be the glue": Seek cooperative solutions among individuals and organizations involved in the children's lives. As one volunteer said: Be the glue that connects the pieces in a complicated child welfare system.
• Recommend services: Ensure that the children and their family are receiving appropriate services and advocate for those that are not immediately available. Bring concerns about the child's health, education, mental health, etc. to the appropriate professionals.
• Monitor case plans and court orders: Check to see that plans are being followed and mandated review hearings are being held.
• Keep the court informed: Update the court on developments with agencies and family members. Ensure that appropriate motions are filed on behalf of the child so the court knows about any changes in the child's situation.

Our next CASA training class will begin June 2nd and go until June 30th. During that time we meet once a week on Fridays in the morning (10 am-1:45 pm). For those interested in training, we will be hosting info sessions on April 19th and May 10th at 12:30 pm and 5:30 pm. You can RSVP for the info session at www.athensoconeecasa.org.Please feel free to explore our website http://www.athensoconeecasa.org/ and like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AthensOconeeCASA/