What is a Court Appointed Special Advocate?
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) are volunteers who act as advocates for children in the legal system. These are trained community volunteers, sworn into service by a judge, and are charged with gathering information and providing an unbiased, independent report to the court regarding the child’s best interest. CASA volunteers get involved when a child is removed from their home due to abuse, neglect or extreme unsafe environments. This typically involves victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. The CASA volunteer visits the child regularly, at minimum once a month , and participates in the child’s court proceedings. A CASA’s role is to protect a child’s best interest; they serve as the eyes and ears of the court, the bridge between the child and the judicial system. They conduct interviews with the child, the parent(s), teachers, social workers, judges, and counselors, to get a clear picture of the child’s life. CASAs also have a continuing responsibility to follow the child through their entire situation. They are not released at the end of one hearing or event, but stay with them until permanency is achieved. Permanency could be reunification with a parent, adoption, guardianship, or independent living.
Courts Require Varying Qualifications and Skills
While there are no official educational or professional requirements to begin working as a CASA, those who have strong communication skills, an affinity for the welfare of children and a sense of compassion are strongly encouraged to apply. Training is offered through CASA programs, and service is voluntary. CASAs come from a variety of professional backgrounds and have a variety of life experiences, but each has qualities that help them stand out as effective advocates. CASAs in Cook County must commit to at least 18 months of service to a child that they are assigned to. Advocates are also required to complete a certain number of hours of courtroom observation, which can help build a more complete picture of how the juvenile system works in practice and what kinds of characteristics make for an effective advocate. CASA of Cook County is looking for individuals who possess the following qualifications: CASA volunteers also go through an intensive training program that helps prepare them for their advocacy role both in court and in the community. If you are interested in serving as a CASA, your local CASA program likely offers information sessions that will help you learn more about the role.
A Pathway to Becoming a CASA
1. Complete the Application
If you’re interested in pursuing this special volunteer opportunity, you’ll need to complete an application to start the process of becoming a CASA. In most areas, you can get a copy of the application through the official CASA website for your location.
Your application should include:
Additional or different requirements for your area may be found on your local CASA’s website.
2. Interview with Your Local CASA
If your application meets the base requirements, you’ll typically sit down for one or more interviews with someone at your local CASA chapter. These interviews will help ensure that you have the necessary qualities to be a successful CASA.
Some of the qualities you should display during your interview include:
Online interviews may also be available for anyone who cannot come in to talk with someone in person. As long as you demonstrate a passion for helping children in the foster care system in your interview, you should be well on your way to becoming a CASA.
3. Criminal and Employment Background Checks
All volunteers who are accepted into CASA programs undergo criminal and employment background checks. Depending on your local CASA chapter, this may occur at the time of your interview or after you have been deemed an appropriate fit for the organization.
If any discrepancies or oddities arise during the background check process, a representative will likely contact you to discuss these findings. Finally, volunteering as a CASA is treated much like a regular job in terms of the checks conducted. Those convicted of abuse or federal offense involving drugs or alcohol will likely fail to meet CASA’s standards and will not be permitted to continue in the volunteer program.
4. Complete the Required Training Programs
Like jobs and volunteer opportunities in the healthcare, finance and legal fields, CASA volunteers are required to undergo specific training for their position. Typically, training involves 30 hours of instruction, including lectures, readings, role playing and direct discussions. This training typically includes:
The 30 hours of training are generally followed up by 6 hours of observing other CASA volunteers who are working on cases. Once completed, volunteers are assigned cases in their local areas and begin working with those individuals.
Live training is often a requirement for volunteer CASA work. Online or distance training is not typically available due to the specialization and personalization of the training, which is intended to provide volunteers with the best tools for successful advocacy.
If you’re seeking a rewarding volunteer opportunity that allows you to act as an advocate for people in need while helping them navigate the complex legal system, working as a CASA may be for you.
The Benefits and Drawbacks of Being a CASA
While being a CASA can be incredibly rewarding, it is a demanding role that takes time. Advocates will need to learn how to navigate the legal system and advocate for a child’s best interests while remaining impartial. The advocate must strive to get to know the child and present their findings to the court, all while keeping the child’s best interests at heart. For some CASAs, the experience is completely new. Advocates may be required to present their case in front of a judge. This can be intimidating! Being able to speak in front of a judge will also help your public speaking skills. Also remember that there is a lot of reading involved. CASAs will read case files which vary from 300-1,000 pages. An advocate needs to process all of this information and present it in the best possible way to achieve the most positive outcome for your child. CASA will support you through the complex role that you’re taking on. Don’t hesitate to ask questions or share your concerns with other advocates or staff.
I am reminded of a child placed in a pre-adoptive home who had been removed at age 4. She was placed shortly thereafter. The parents did everything possible to show the court how much they wanted the child back. Their jobs went well, their credit was intact, they had family support; but, most of all, me and another CASA convinced ourselves that this was the right home for this child. Every day we went out there we poured our hearts into all we were doing. Then, within a month of the last court hearing, the parents stopped showing up. After several more months of counseling, it was determined that the child needed strong and permanent connections, she needed to feel safe and loved . The placement she had been in, while good, would have kept her in limbo and she was already behind. We said goodbye to a child we truly loved and knew to be ready for the forever family she was placed with. It was heart-breaking and hard, especially knowing how much we had invested and how far we had come. But, she is thriving and actually what we did is making me proud today. I think the hardest thing for me was the fact that I felt that we knew so much more than everyone else at the court hearing. We could see the child and her parents did not seem to be able to see a big problem, even when pointing it out. I won’t say I doubted myself as a CASA, but I have learned that we really have to trust in the judges and the people who were appointed to do the job of reforming the family. It has taught me to focus on the child and not just the family. – Jona C.
I had the assignment of a teenage girl, who had been with several different foster families, some for long amounts of time, but had never experienced the love of a permanent family. I spent time with her two hours a week, making sure to go where she felt comfortable so she could share without feeling threatened by the foster parents who were willing to adopt her. She certainly was not thrilled at the idea of being adopted, but she was beginning to come around, and when she received a permanent placement offer it was such a monumental step for her. To get the opportunity to walk with her through the fear of that big step, into the security of adoption has been the most amazing gift I could ever receive. I just received the pictures from her family tree. I will be prepared when we start our tree in the next few weeks. I have been truly blessed through this experience. – Kimberly D.
Job Prospects and Opportunities for CASAs
The job market for court appointed special advocates can be seen as dynamic, with opportunities often arising in unlikely places. CASAs are frequently employed across various sectors because of their unique skill set and experience in working with children, understanding the legal system, and advocating for vulnerable populations. While many CASAs volunteer on a part-time basis, there are also paid positions available within nonprofit organizations, social service agencies, or governmental roles related to child welfare. Depending on the state, the demand for CASAs can vary. In some jurisdictions, there is a critical shortage of advocates; in other areas, there may be a surplus. This can affect the willingness of nonprofits or government agencies to hire paid CASAs.
For instance, urban areas with high populations of foster children may have a greater demand for volunteers and advocates than rural areas. However, in rural areas, a paid CASA position may make sense for an advocacy organization. Geographically, states with established CASA programs, such as California, Texas, and New York, may have more opportunities for those looking to work full-time. In contrast, states that are just launching CASA initiatives may rely more heavily on volunteers. Another feature that may apply to CASAs is transition into other areas of the law and other legal positions in the private sector. Many people who become CASAs find that they are able to transition into other roles within the legal system, such as mediators, attorneys, social service providers, school advocates, and more.
The Impact and Relevance of CASA Work
CASA’s sole task is advocacy, the act of standing up for the interests of a child in a legal system that can be difficult to navigate. CASA advocates do not provide mental health services, find housing for families, or seek financial support, and they do not attempt to influence judicial decisions. Their only purpose is to act as the child’s voice, which can directly influence the course of future proceedings for the child.
Some statistics from CornerHouse, a child advocacy center in the Upper Midwest, showcase the impact of advocacy at the community level, and reveal how CASA advocates contribute to that impact: 51% of practitioners saw a positive and significant improvement in a family member’s commitment to the family unit , as measured by the Minnesota Family Assessment Form, Version 1.0 (FAF-V1). 51% of practitioners saw an overall positive and significant impact on the family’s situation and commitment to social service interventions, as measured by the Parent Satisfaction Questionnaire. 69% of practitioners measured positive changes in the family’s ability to cooperate with the legal system, as measured by the Integrity Questionaire.
Overall, CASA advocates provide assistance to both the legal system and the community overall. Providing a voice to a vulnerable member of society who does not have the means or ability to speak for themselves is crucial in providing justice within the legal system.
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