Home   <   Court Appointed Special Advocates   <   For Professionals

For Professionals

A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) represents the best interests of children in the court system. As trained advocates, Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers are appointed by judges to be a voice for these children. Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers gather information to present to the court about steps that will move the child’s life in a positive direction. The result is that children are placed into safe, loving, permanent homes where they can thrive. A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer will then continue to watch that court orders are followed and the child’s needs are met.

A child is assigned to a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer in the following ways:

• Must currently be a Child In Need of Assistance (CINA) or subject of a post-TPR guardianship case
• Any party in the court case may suggest the appointment of Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)
• Judge issues a court order to activate the assignment process
• CASA program links the case to an available volunteer who has been sworn in by the court (completed training and screening process)

A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer must complete an extensive screening process by submitting a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer application, completing interviews, supplying a State/FBI fingerprint background check, passing the State Child Abuse/Neglect Registry background check, and providing personal references.

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers undergo a 30 hour initial training process and must complete 12 hours of ongoing training per year.

Once sworn into the court system a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer must report at least seven days prior to his or her child’s hearing date. However, if a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer is unable to attend the hearing, a Case Supervisor will represent on behalf of the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA).

The Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer’s role is as follows:

• Have direct and sufficient contact with a child to carry out an independent and valid investigation of the child’s circumstances and needs
• Make sound, thorough and objective recommendations in the child’s best interest
• Contact with child should occur in person to provide firsthand knowledge of the child and his/her unique personality, abilities and needs
• While social contact is permitted with the child to develop trust and a meaningful relationship, Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers functions as an objective advocate for the child.
• Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers DO NOT provide direct services to the child, such as supervising visitation; however, they might observe visitation.
• Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers DO NOT take children into their homes, provide shelter for children, or take children on overnight outings.
• Mentoring and role modeling is NOT the primary purpose of the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer; however, we hope that children find their Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers to be positive role models.

For more information about the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program, please contact Jennifer Fuss at 301-663-011 ext. 118 or visit the National CASA website. If you are interested in becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer, please fill out the Volunteer Application.