Description
CASA of Kenton County recruits, trains and supervises volunteers who provide courtroom advocacy for abused and neglected children under the jurisdiction of the kenton County Family Court. Our program provides a voice for abused children to help ensure they have safe, permanent and caring homes in which to live.
CASA Volunteers must undergo extensive training to enable them to make objective recommendations to Family Court Judges as to the best interests of each child. Volunteers receive 34 hours of training in a curriculum designed by the National CASA Association (30 hours classroom and 4 hours of court observation, plus 12 hours of annual professional development).
CASA Volunteers are responsible for reviewing all records and documents related to the case they have been assigned. The CASA then meets and interviews the children and other individuals who are a party to the case or who may have relevant information. Ultimately, the CASA files a written report to the judge providing recommendations for resolution of the issue in question. The courts have come to rely on the information these trusted objective advocates present. While there are many people associated with each abuse and neglect case (parents, grandparents, teachers, social workers, psychologists, doctors, and attorneys) representing competing interests, the CASA has the unique responsibility of advising the judge as to the resolution that is in the best interest of the child. This is always a challenging and complicated task, but can be a very rewarding opportunity.
