CASA / GAL

• CASA  -  Court Appointed Special Advocate

• GAL  -  Guardian  Ad  Litem

A CASA/GAL is an advocate for a child’s best interests during child abuse and neglect proceedings. The CASA/GAL is appointed to a child by the District Court and an attorney is appointed to represent the CASA/GAL in all Court proceedings. The appointment of a CASA/GAL is mandatory under federal and state statutes. The duties of a CASA/GAL are to investigate the facts constituting the alleged abuse or neglect; to interview the child, parents or custodians and others who may have information relevant to the case; to review Court, medical, psychological, law enforcement and social service files; to make written reports to the Court; to appear and participate in Court proceedings; and to perform other duties as directed by the Court.

The CASA/GAL is granted the following duties and responsibilities:

1.   To conduct such investigations to ascertain the facts constituting the abuse or neglect;

2.   To interview or observe the youth who is the subject in the proceeding;

3.   To have access to all Court, law enforcement, medical, psychological, social services, and school records pertaining to the youth and birth parents or custodians.

4.   To make written reports to the Court concerning the youth’s welfare.

5.   To appear and participate in all proceedings to adequately represent the youth and make recommendations to the Court concerning the youth’s welfare;

6.   CASA/GAL personnel are parties to the case and parties to any agreement or plan entered into on behalf of the child(ren);

7.   The appointed CASA has the same access to the child(ren) as a guardian ad litem;

8.   CASA personnel are agents of this Court and as such , are granted judicial immunity;

9.   Presentation of this order to any agency, hospital, school, organization, persons or offices including the clerk of this Court, division of social services, human services agencies, medical personnel, pediatricians, psychologists, psychiatrists, police and sheriff’s departments, mental health clinics, chemical dependency evaluations, etc., shall permit CASA personnel to inspect and/or copy any records relating to the children and the children’s parents. Furthermore, the aforementioned entities shall allow free access to CASA personnel to speak with all necessary or applicable individuals in relation to services provided, and/or information contained within that agency;

10.   “CASA personnel” is defined as the individual appointed to act as the CASA/GAL, the local CASA director, and the attorney appointed to represent the CASA/GAL; and,

11.   To perform such other duties as directed by the Court.

Training of CASA Volunteers

Through a comprehensive 30-hour training program volunteers are equipped with the necessary skills and information to serve as a voice for the child. The areas covered in the training include:

   1.  Advocacy

   2.  Child Development and Family Systems

   3.  Community Resources for Children

   4.  Court Appearances and Testimony

   5.  Court Report Writing

   6.  Dependency Law and Procedure

   7.  Dynamics of Child Abuse and Neglect

   8.  Ethics, Confidentiality of Information & Mandated Reporting

   9.  Interviewing

10.  Investigation

11.   Permanency Planning

12.  The CASA Concept

13.  Role and Responsibilities of the CASA Volunteer

14.  Role of the Child Welfare Agency (Dept. of Human Services)

15.  Role of the Juvenile Court and Key Participants

16.  Role of the Law Enforcement Agencies

•  Each trainee will attend hearings as directed by the Program Director.

•  A CASA training manual will be provided to each trainee.

•  Trainees must attend all training sessions. Missed sessions must be made up.

•  Upon completion of training, candidates will participate in a meeting with the Program Director. The purpose of this meeting is to allow trainees to evaluate the training, make suggestions to strengthen future training, or allow the program staff to terminate a trainee who has not successfully completed this screening process.

Advocate Appreciation Bowling Night