FAQs


What is a CASA volunteer?
A Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer is a trained citizen who is appointed by a judge to represent the best interests of abused and neglected children in juvenile court.

What is the CASA volunteer’s role?
A CASA volunteer provides a judge with carefully researched background of the child to help the court make a sound decision about that child’s future.  The CASA volunteer must determine if it is in a child’s best interest to stay with his or her parents or guardians, be placed in foster care, be placed with other relatives, or be placed for permanent adoption.  The CASA volunteer makes recommendations on such placement to the judge and follows through on the case until it is permanently resolved.

How does a CASA volunteer investigate a case?
To prepare a recommendation, the CASA volunteer talks with the child, parents, family members, social workers, school officials, health providers and others who are knowledgeable about the child’s history.  The CASA volunteer also reviews all records pertaining to the child--school, medical and case worker reports; and other documents.

How does the CASA role differ from the Department of Human Resources?
Each caseworker for the Department of Human Resources has an extensive caseload.  A CASA is a volunteer with a small caseload and more time to devote to the investigation of the case.  The CASA does not replace a caseworker; a CASA is an independent appointee of the Court and a party to the case. The CASA can thoroughly examine a child’s case, has knowledge of community resources and can make a recommendation to the Court independent of state agency restrictions.

How does the role of a CASA volunteer differ from an attorney?
The CASA volunteer does not provide legal representation.  That is the role of the attorney.  However, the CASA volunteer does provide crucial background information that assists attorneys in presenting their cases.

Is there a “typical” CASA volunteer?
CASA volunteers come from all walks of life, with a variety of educational and ethnic backgrounds.  There are more than 58,000 CASA volunteers nationally.  Aside from their CASA volunteer responsibility, about 50% are employed in regular full-time jobs. Volunteers are screened closely for objectivity, competence and security includes reference checks, drivers’ license checks and fingerprinting.  Husband/wife teams, mother/daughter teams, brother/sister teams and the like allow great advocacy for a family with three or more children, and allow the Volunteer team members the ability to work around scheduling conflicts.

What training does a CASA receive? 
Each CASA must complete 30 hours of training from a curriculum recommended by the National CASA organization prior to being assigned a case.  Each trained volunteer must complete 12 hours of in-service training yearly in order to comply with National and State mandates.  In-service hours are a great way for Volunteers to learn more about specific issues affecting children in their own community. 

How does the CASA volunteer relate to the child?
The CASA interviews the child if the child is old enough to talk.  If not, the CASA observes the child’s interactions with various people involved in his or her life.  The CASA offers the child trust and advocacy, encouraging the child to express their opinion and hopes.

How many cases on average does a CASA volunteer carry at a time?
The number varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but an average caseload is one to two cases at a time.

How much time does it require?
Each case is different.  A CASA volunteer usually spends about 7-10 hours doing research and conducting interviews prior to the first court appearance.  More complicated cases take longer.  Once initiated into the system, volunteers work about 8 hours a month.

How long does a CASA remain involved with a case?
The CASA worker continues on a case until it is permanently resolved.  The CASA must make a commitment to at least a one-year term of service upon the appointment of a case, and it would be in the best interest of the child involved in the case if the CASA remains until the case is permanently resolved.

How did the CASA Program get started?
In 1976, Judge David Soukup, from the State of Washington< began the program to ensure that he was getting all the facts and that the long-term welfare of each child was being represented.  CASA is now a National Organization.

How many CASA programs are there?
There are now 950 CASA programs in every state across the country including Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

How effective have CASA programs been?
Research suggests that children who have been assigned CASA volunteers tend to spend less time in court and less time within the foster care system than those who do not have CASA representation.  Judges have observed that CASA children also have better chances of finding permanent homes than non-CASA children.

How is CASA funded?
At the local level, CASA programs are generally funded through a combination of private and public funds.  The National CASA Association is funded through a combination of private grants, federal funds (U.S. Justice Department), memberships and contributions.

What is CASA’s Mission?
The mission of the National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association is to speak for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the courts.  We promote and support quality volunteer representation for children to provide each child a safe, permanent, nurturing home.